His "Day in Court"
The narrative unfolds in the Great Smoky Mountains, where a family grapples with the aftermath of a violent incident involving their daughter, Evelina, and her new husband, Absalom Kittredge. The Quimbey family, led by the patriarch Joel, is steeped in a longstanding feud with the Kittredges, stemming from historical grievances and personal animosities. The story begins in the aftermath of a harsh winter, with the Quimbeys in disarray, reflecting their internal turmoil and the chaos of their lives. Evelina's elopement with Absalom ignites tensions, leading to a confrontation where the Quimbey men mistakenly shoot Absalom, believing him to be an intruder. This act of violence sets the stage for Evelina's struggle between her loyalty to her family and her love for her husband. As she navigates her new life among the Kittredges, she faces hostility and suspicion from her in-laws, who view her as an outsider. The narrative explores themes of familial loyalty, love, and the complexities of social ties in a rural setting. Evelina's internal conflict intensifies as she grapples with her identity and the expectations placed upon her by both families. The Kittredges, particularly Absalom's mother, are depicted as antagonistic figures, further complicating Evelina's situation. As the story progresses, Evelina's longing for acceptance and belonging becomes palpable. She experiences moments of joy and despair, particularly as she reflects on her father's disappointment and the weight of her choices. The tension culminates in a court scene where the custody of Evelina and Absalom's child, Elnathan Daniel, is contested, symbolizing the ongoing struggle between the two families. The climax reveals the fragility of familial bonds and the potential for reconciliation. Evelina's determination to mend the rift between her husband and father leads to a poignant resolution, where the characters confront their past grievances and seek a path forward. The narrative concludes with a sense of hope, as the Quimbeys and Kittredges begin to bridge their differences, suggesting that love and understanding can transcend deep-seated animosities. Overall, the work intricately weaves together themes of love, conflict, and the quest for identity within the framework of familial loyalty, set against the backdrop of the rugged and beautiful Smoky Mountains.
By Mary Noailles Murfree · First published 1903 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Drama · 21,823 words
First lines
It had been a hard winter along the slopes of the Great Smoky Mountains, and still the towering treeless domes were covered with snow, and the vagrant winds were abroad, rioting among the clifty heights where they held their tryst, or raiding down into the sheltered depths of the Cove, where they seldom intruded. Nevertheless, on this turbulent rush was borne in the fair spring of the year. The fragrance of the budding wild-cherry was to be discerned amidst the keen slanting javelins of the rain. A cognition of the renewal and the expanding of the forces of nature pervaded the senses as distinctly as if one might hear the grass growing, or feel along the chill currents of the air the vernal pulses thrill. Night after night in the rifts of the breaking clouds close to the horizon was glimpsed the stately sidereal Virgo, prefiguring and promising the harvest, holding in her hand a gleaming ear of corn. But it was not the constellation which the tumultuous torrent at the mountain's base reflected in a starry glitter. From the hill-side above a light cast its broken image among the ripples, as it shone for an instant through the bosky laurel, white, stellular, splendid -- only a tallow dip suddenly placed in the window of a log-cabin, and as suddenly withdrawn.
What this Textopian page supports
His "Day in Court" is listed on Textopian as a novel by Mary Noailles Murfree, dated 1903 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Mary Noailles Murfree
- Date: 1903 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Drama, Southern Gothic, Legal Thriller
- Length: 21,823 words
- Structure: 1 section, 285 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for His "Day in Court" by Mary Noailles Murfree
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — The book explores complex themes and character development, typical of literary fiction.
- Historical Fiction — Set in a specific historical context, it reflects the social and cultural issues of the time.
- Drama — The narrative involves intense emotional conflicts and character interactions.
- Southern Gothic — Incorporates elements of the Southern Gothic tradition, focusing on the darker aspects of life in the South.
Tags
Southern Gothic · Literary Fiction · Short Story Collection · Regionalism · American Literature · 19th Century American Literature · Tennessee Setting · Rural Life · Social Class · Morality · Justice System · Courtroom Drama