A Prologue by Gertrude Atherton
A Prologue is a novel by Gertrude Atherton that tells the story of a young woman named Margaret who struggles to find her place in society after being orphaned at a young age. The book explores themes of identity, belonging, and social class as Margaret navigates the complexities of Victorian-era San Francisco.
By Gertrude Atherton · First published 1902 · Genre: Drama, Historical Fiction, Romance · 4,972 words
First lines
(TO AN UNWRITTEN PLAY)
Characters: James Hamilton, Mary Fawcett, Rachael Lavine, two slaves. Place: Nevis, British West Indies. Time: The month of April, 1756.
What this Textopian page supports
A Prologue is listed on Textopian as a short story by Gertrude Atherton, dated 1902 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Gertrude Atherton
- Date: 1902 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Drama, Historical Fiction, Romance, Adventure, Psychological Fiction
- Length: 4,972 words
- Structure: 1 section, 113 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Prologue by Gertrude Atherton
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Prologue?
- How does this short story by Gertrude Atherton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Drama first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Drama — The narrative is structured as a play with intense emotional exchanges and dramatic tension.
- Historical Fiction — Set in the 18th century Caribbean, it reflects historical context and societal norms of the time.
- Romance — Central to the plot is a forbidden love and the emotional turmoil it causes.
- Adventure — The story involves a life-threatening hurricane, adding elements of danger and survival.
Tags
literature · fiction · prologue · narrative · character development · American literature · 19th century · social commentary · women's rights · historical context · family dynamics · class struggle