The Cathedral by Hugh Walpole (1931)

Name: The Cathedral
Author: Hugh Walpole

The novel revolves around a young man who becomes obsessed with building a cathedral and the impact it has on his life and relationships. The story explores themes of obsession, morality, and the human condition through the protagonist's relentless pursuit of his vision.

By Hugh Walpole · First published 1931 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Drama, Psychological Fiction · 28 chapters · 172,867 words

First lines

Adam Brandon was born at Little Empton in Kent in 1839. He was educated at the King's School, Canterbury, and at Pembroke College, Cambridge. Ordained in 1863, he was first curate at St. Martin's, Portsmouth, then Chaplain to the Bishop of Worcester; in the year 1875 he accepted the living of Pomfret in Wiltshire and was there for twelve years. It was in 1887 that he came to our town; he was first Canon and afterwards Archdeacon. Ten years later he had, by personal influence and strength of character, acquired so striking a position amongst us that he was often alluded to as "the King of Polchester. " His power was the greater because both our Bishop (Bishop Purcell) and our Dean (Dean Sampson) during that period were men of retiring habits of life.

What this Textopian page supports

The Cathedral is listed on Textopian as a novel by Hugh Walpole, dated 1931 CE.

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

Work type: Novel
Author: Hugh Walpole
Date: 1931 CE
Language: English
Genres: Literary Fiction, Drama, Psychological Fiction, Social Commentary, Historical Fiction
Length: 172,867 words
Structure: 28 chapters, 3,248 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The Cathedral by Hugh Walpole
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering The Cathedral?
How does this novel by Hugh Walpole fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Literary Fiction — The book is primarily focused on character development, intricate relationships, and moral dilemmas, which are hallmarks of literary fiction.
Drama — The narrative is driven by intense emotional conflicts and personal struggles, typical of dramatic storytelling.
Psychological Fiction — The exploration of the characters' inner thoughts and motivations aligns with the characteristics of psychological fiction.
Social Commentary — The book provides insights into societal norms and critiques social structures, fitting the genre of social commentary.