The Revolution in Tanner's Lane

Name: The Revolution in Tanner's Lane
Author: Mark Rutherford

The Revolution in Tanner's Lane follows a printer's life as it unravels amid the political turmoil of early 19th-century England, delving into themes of love, loyalty, and the struggle for social justice. Through the protagonist's experiences, the narrative explores the complexities of personal aspirations against a backdrop of societal upheaval.

By Mark Rutherford · First published 1890 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Social Commentary · 28 chapters · 98,059 words

First lines

The 20th April 1814, an almost cloudless, perfectly sunny day, saw all London astir. On that day Lewis the Eighteenth was to come from Hartwell in triumph, summoned by France to the throne of his ancestors. London had not enjoyed too much gaiety that year. It was the year of the great frost. Nothing like it had been known in the memory of man. In the West of England, where snow is rare, roads were impassable and mails could not be delivered. Four dead men were dug out of a deep drift about ten miles west of Exeter. Even at Plymouth, close to the soft southwestern ocean, the average depth of the fall was twenty inches, and there was no other way of getting eastwards than by packhorses. The Great North Road was completely blocked, and there was a barricade over it near Godmanchester of from six to ten feet high. The Oxford coach was buried. Some passengers inside were rescued with great difficulty, and their lives were barely saved. The Solway Firth at Workington resembled the Arctic Sea, and the Thames was so completely frozen over between Blackfriars and London Bridges that people were able, not only to walk across, but to erect booths on the ice. Coals, of course, rose to famine prices in London, as it was then dependent solely upon water-carriage for its supply. The Father of his people, the Prince Regent, was much moved by the general distress of "a large and meritorious class of industrious persons," as he called them, and issued a circular to all Lords Lieutenant ordering them to provide all practicable means of removing obstructions from the highways.

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The Revolution in Tanner's Lane is listed on Textopian as a novel by Mark Rutherford, dated 1890 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: Mark Rutherford
Date: 1890 CE
Language: English
Genres: Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Social Commentary, Philosophical Fiction, Drama
Length: 98,059 words
Structure: 28 chapters, 1,054 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Literary Fiction — The book explores complex themes of social change and individual morality, characteristic of literary fiction.
Historical Fiction — Set in a specific historical context, it reflects the societal issues of its time.
Social Commentary — The narrative critiques social norms and political structures, making it a form of social commentary.
Philosophical Fiction — The book delves into philosophical questions about existence and ethics.