The Whole Family by Mary E. Wilkins
The Whole Family explores the shifting dynamics within a family as a daughter's engagement uncovers hidden secrets, rivalries, and the intricate balance of love and loyalty among relatives. As tensions rise and personal desires clash, each member must navigate their own identity amidst the chaos.
By Mary E. Wilkins · First published 1908 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Realism, Drama · 12 chapters · 92,609 words
First lines
As soon as we heard the pleasant news -- I suppose the news of an engagement ought always to be called pleasant -- it was decided that I ought to speak first about it, and speak to the father. We had not been a great while in the neighborhood, and it would look less like a bid for the familiar acquaintance of people living on a larger scale than ourselves, and less of an opening for our own intimacy if they turned out to be not quite so desirable in other ways as they were in the worldly way. For the ladies of the respective families first to offer and receive congratulations would be very much more committing on both sides; at the same time, to avoid the appearance of stiffness, some one ought to speak, and speak promptly. The news had not come to us directly from our neighbors, but authoritatively from a friend of theirs, who was also a friend of ours, and we could not very well hold back. So, in the cool of the early evening, when I had quite finished rasping my lawn with the new mower, I left it at the end of the swath, which had brought me near the fence, and said across it,
What this Textopian page supports
The Whole Family is listed on Textopian as a novel by Mary E. Wilkins, dated 1908 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Mary E. Wilkins
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Realism, Drama, Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction
- Length: 92,609 words
- Structure: 12 chapters, 999 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Whole Family by Mary E. Wilkins
- 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 Whole Family?
- How does this novel by Mary E. Wilkins fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — The book explores complex family dynamics and character development, typical of literary fiction.
- Realism — The narrative presents realistic portrayals of everyday life and social issues.
- Drama — The plot centers around emotional conflicts and interpersonal relationships within a family.
- Historical Fiction — Set in a specific historical context, it reflects the societal norms and values of the time.
Tags
Family Drama · Social Commentary · Realism · Psychological Insight · Marriage · Relationships · Class Conflict · Morality · Ethics · Societal Expectations · Domestic Life · Female Experience
Contents
- The Father, by William Dean Howells
- The Old-Maid Aunt, by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
- The Grandmother, by Mary Heaton Vorse
- The Daughter-In-Law, by Mary Stewart Cutting
- The School-Girl, by Elizabeth Jordan
- The Son-In-Law, by John Kendrick Bangs
- The Married Son, by Henry James
- The Married Daughter, by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps
- The Mother, by Edith Wyatt
- The School-Boy, by Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews
- Peggy, by Alice Brown
- The Friend of the Family, by Henry Van Dyke