The Mansion by Henry Van Dyke (1892)
The story revolves around a wealthy family's summer home, where the patriarch has died and left behind a will that sparks tension among his relatives. The family members are drawn to the mansion for the reading of the will, each with their own motivations and secrets. As they gather, old rivalries and resentments surface, threatening to destroy the family's already fragile relationships.
By Henry Van Dyke · First published 1892 · Genre: Christian Fiction, Allegory, Philosophical Fiction · 10,434 words
Editions
First lines
I
There was an air of calm and reserved opulence about the Weightman mansion that spoke not of money squandered, but of wealth prudently applied. Standing on a corner of the Avenue no longer fashionable for residence, it looked upon the swelling tide of business with an expression of complacency and half-disdain.
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- The Night Call by Henry Van Dyke
Genres
- Christian Fiction — The narrative explores themes of morality, redemption, and the afterlife, central to Christian teachings.
- Allegory — The story uses symbolic characters and events to convey moral and spiritual lessons.
- Philosophical Fiction — The text delves into existential questions about life, purpose, and the nature of true success.
- Social Commentary — The work critiques societal values, particularly the pursuit of wealth and status over genuine virtue.
Tags
Mystery · Thriller · Psychological Fiction · Gothic · Dark · Atmospheric · Isolated Setting · Family Drama · Secrets · Deception · Suspense · Tension
What this Textopian page supports
The Mansion is listed on Textopian as a novel by Henry Van Dyke, dated 1892 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Henry Van Dyke
- Date: 1892 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Christian Fiction, Allegory, Philosophical Fiction, Social Commentary, Drama
- Length: 10,434 words
- Structure: 1 section, 153 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Mansion by Henry Van Dyke
- 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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