The Empty House
The Empty House is a novel by John Gould Fletcher, first published in 1925. It tells the story of a young man, John, who returns to his family home in Arkansas after a long absence. He finds the house empty and abandoned, and soon discovers that his family has been killed in a fire. As he explores the house, he finds clues that suggest his family was involved in a mysterious and sinister plot. He also discovers a secret room in the house, which contains a mysterious book that holds the key to the family's secrets. As he unravels the mystery, John discovers a dark and dangerous conspiracy that threatens to destroy his family and the entire town. In the end, John must confront the truth and decide whether to accept it or fight against it.
By John Gould Fletcher · First published 1916 · Genre: Southern Gothic, Mystery, Horror · 427 words
First lines
Out from my window-sill I lean, And see a straight four-storied row Of houses.
Once, long ago, These had their glory: they were built In the fair palmy days before The Civil War when all the seas Saw the white sails of Yankee ships Scurrying home with spice and gold.
What this Textopian page supports
The Empty House is listed on Textopian as a short story by John Gould Fletcher, dated 1916 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: John Gould Fletcher
- Date: 1916 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Southern Gothic, Mystery, Horror, Literary Fiction
- Length: 427 words
- Structure: 1 section, 17 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Confusing
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Empty House by John Gould Fletcher
- 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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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Empty House?
- How does this short story by John Gould Fletcher fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Southern Gothic first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Terror by Frank Stuart Flint
- Yellow Jessamine by Leigh Gordon Giltner
- Cones by Frank Stuart Flint
- Sunsets by Richard Aldington
- After Two Years by Richard Aldington
- In The Theatre by John Gould Fletcher
Genres
- Southern Gothic — The Empty House is set in the American South and explores themes of death, decay, and the supernatural, which are all common elements of Southern Gothic literature.
- Mystery — The Empty House follows a detective as he investigates a mysterious death, making it a mystery novel.
- Horror — The Empty House contains elements of horror, such as the supernatural and the macabre, making it a horror novel.
- Literary Fiction — The Empty House is a well-crafted novel with complex characters and themes, making it a work of literary fiction.
Tags
20th century · American poetry · English poetry · Imagist poetry · backyard · blindless · busy · chancellorsville · chequering · day · days · drifting