Northern Lights, Volume 3

Name: Northern Lights, Volume 3
Author: Gilbert Parker

In this narrative, a man embarks on an arduous journey to the Arctic, driven by a quest for adventure and the allure of gold. His travels through desolate landscapes are marked by solitude, hardship, and the companionship of his dogs and occasional Indian guides. As he navigates the harsh environment, memories of a girl he briefly met linger in his mind, igniting a longing for home and connection. This girl, tied to the north through her family's tragic history, becomes a symbol of hope and love for him. Along the way, he encounters an elderly man, a mysterious figure with a past shrouded in legend. The younger man, John Bickersteth, cares for the old man, who seems to have lost his memory but possesses a unique ability to heal. Their bond deepens as they journey together, with Bickersteth contemplating the old man's identity and the possibility that he may be connected to the ill-fated expedition of Sir John Franklin. As they approach civilization, the narrative builds tension around the old man's potential recognition of his past and the implications it holds for both men. The story culminates in a poignant moment of revelation during a concert, where the old man's memories resurface, intertwining their fates with the women they love.

By Gilbert Parker · First published 1904 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Romance · 3 chapters · 25,212 words

First lines

The arrogant sun had stalked away into the evening, trailing behind him banners of gold and crimson, and a swift twilight was streaming over the land. As the sun passed, the eyes of two men on a high hill followed it, and the look of one was like a light in a window to a lost traveller. It had in it the sense of home and the tale of a journey done. Such a journey this man had made as few have ever attempted, and fewer accomplished. To the farthermost regions of snow and ice, where the shoulder of a continent juts out into the northwestern Arctic seas, he had travelled on foot and alone, save for his dogs, and for Indian guides, who now and then shepherded him from point to point. The vast ice-hummocks had been his housing, pemmican, the raw flesh of fish, and even the fat and oil of seals had been his food. Ever and ever through long months the everlasting white glitter of the snow and ice, ever and ever the cold stars, the cloudless sky, the moon at full, or swung like a white sickle in the sky to warn him that his life must be mown like grass. At night to sleep in a bag of fur and wool, by day the steely wind, or the air shaking with a filmy powder of frost; while the illimitably distant sun made the tiny flakes sparkle like silver -- a poudre day, when the face and hands are most like to be frozen, and all so still and white and passionless, yet aching with energy. Hundreds upon hundreds of miles that endless trail went winding to the farthest North-west. No human being had ever trod its lengths before, though Indians or a stray Hudson's Bay Company man had made journeys over part of it during the years that have passed since Prince Rupert sent his adventurers to dot that northern land with posts and forts, and trace fine arteries of civilisation through the wastes.

What this Textopian page supports

Northern Lights, Volume 3 is listed on Textopian as a novel by Gilbert Parker, dated 1904 CE.

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

Work type: Novel
Author: Gilbert Parker
Date: 1904 CE
Language: English
Genres: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Romance, Drama, Literary Fiction
Length: 25,212 words
Structure: 3 chapters, 291 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Northern Lights, Volume 3 by Gilbert Parker
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

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How does this novel by Gilbert Parker fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Similar titles

Genres

Historical Fiction — The book is set in a historical context, with events and characters that reflect the time period it portrays.
Adventure — The narrative includes elements of exploration and adventure, with characters embarking on significant journeys.
Romance — There are romantic elements and relationships that play a crucial role in the storyline.
Drama — The book contains dramatic elements, with intense character interactions and emotional conflicts.