The Village Convict
The Village Convict is a novel by Heman White Chaplin, set in the small town of New England in the late 1800s. The story follows the life of a young man, John, who is sent to prison for a crime he did not commit. While in prison, John meets a variety of characters, including a kindly old man who helps him to adjust to life in prison. John eventually escapes from prison and returns to his hometown, where he is welcomed back with open arms. He is determined to prove his innocence and clear his name, but he soon discovers that the townspeople are not as forgiving as he had hoped. He must face the consequences of his past actions and the prejudice of the townspeople. The novel follows John as he struggles to make a new life for himself and to prove his innocence. Along the way, he learns valuable lessons about justice, forgiveness, and redemption. The Village Convict is a powerful story of redemption and hope.
By Heman White Chaplin · First published 1887 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Drama, Mystery · 8,032 words
First lines
"Wonder 'f Eph's got back; they say his sentence run out yisterday."
The speaker, John Doane, was a sunburnt fisherman, one of a circle of well-salted individuals who sat, some on chairs, some on boxes and barrels, around the stove in a country store.
What this Textopian page supports
The Village Convict is listed on Textopian as a novel by Heman White Chaplin, dated 1887 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Heman White Chaplin
- Date: 1887 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Drama, Mystery, Romance
- Length: 8,032 words
- Structure: 1 section, 182 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Village Convict by Heman White Chaplin
- 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 Village Convict?
- How does this novel by Heman White Chaplin fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Five Hundred Dollars by Heman White Chaplin
- A Mere Chance by Ada Cambridge
- Hooking Watermelons by Edward Bellamy
- The Choice by Edith Wharton
- The New Ministers Great Opportunity by Heman White Chaplin
- Mam Lyddys Recognition by Thomas Nelson Page
Genres
- Historical Fiction — The book is set in a village in the 19th century and follows the story of a convict, suggesting a historical setting.
- Drama — The book follows the story of a convict and the struggles they face, suggesting a dramatic plot.
- Mystery — The book follows the story of a convict and the mystery of their past, suggesting a mysterious plot.
- Romance — The book follows the story of a convict and their relationship with another character, suggesting a romantic plot.
Tags
Fiction · New England · Short stories · Social life and customs · aunt · boat · come · could · doctor · door · eliphalet · em