The Avalanche by Gertrude Atherton

The Avalanche is a novel by Gertrude Atherton that tells the story of a young woman named Nora Forbes who marries a wealthy man named John Forbes. However, their marriage is not happy and Nora eventually falls in love with another man. The book explores themes of love, betrayal, and social class.

By Gertrude Atherton · First published 1906 · Genre: Drama, Romance, Psychological Fiction · 14 chapters · 48,631 words

First lines

I

Price Ruyler knew that many secrets had been inhumed by the earthquake and fire of San Francisco and wondered if his wife's had been one of them. After all, she had been born in this city of odd and whispered pasts, and there were moments when his silent mother-in-law suggested a past of her own.

What this Textopian page supports

The Avalanche is listed on Textopian as a novel by Gertrude Atherton, dated 1906 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Novel
• Author: Gertrude Atherton
• Date: 1906 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Drama, Romance, Psychological Fiction, Social Commentary
• Length: 48,631 words
• Structure: 14 chapters, 838 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Avalanche by Gertrude Atherton
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

• What should a reader notice first when entering The Avalanche?
• How does this novel 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 book primarily explores intense personal and familial conflicts, focusing on emotional and psychological depth.
• Romance — Central to the narrative is a romantic relationship that drives much of the plot and character development.
• Psychological Fiction — The story delves into the psychological motivations and inner workings of its characters.
• Social Commentary — The narrative provides insights into societal norms and issues of the time, critiquing social structures.

Tags

drama · romance · society · California · family · wealth · betrayal · love · conflict · adventure · nature · isolation

Contents

• CHAPTER I
• CHAPTER II
• CHAPTER III
• CHAPTER IV
• CHAPTER V
• CHAPTER VI
• CHAPTER VII
• CHAPTER VIII
• CHAPTER IX
• CHAPTER X
• CHAPTER XI
• CHAPTER XII
• CHAPTER XIII
• CHAPTER XIV

More by Gertrude Atherton

• The Sacrificial Altar (1930)
• The Pearls of Loreto (1904)
• The Ears of Twenty Americans (1920)
• The Wash-Tub Mail (1896)
• The Conquest of Dona Jacoba (1902)
• A Ramble with Eulogia (1902)
• The Isle of Skulls (1907)
• The Head of a Priest (1905)
• All works by Gertrude Atherton