The Dolliver Romance
An elderly apothecary, Dr. Dolliver, lives a solitary life with his great-granddaughter, Pansie, in a house adjacent to a graveyard. The doctor, once a respected figure in his community, now struggles with the weight of his age and the loss of his family. His only companion is Pansie, a lively child who brings him joy and a sense of purpose. The narrative explores themes of aging, memory, and the passage of time, as the doctor reflects on his life and the many loved ones he has lost. One day, after taking a sip of a mysterious cordial left by his deceased grandson, the doctor feels invigorated and decides to engage more actively with life. He tends to his garden, which includes a row of exotic herbs that his late mentor, Dr. Swinnerton, had planted. These herbs are said to possess miraculous properties, but the doctor has never dared to use them, fearing their unknown effects. As the story unfolds, the doctor’s health appears to improve, and he begins to feel a renewed sense of vitality. However, this newfound energy is juxtaposed with the looming presence of death, as he frequently contemplates the graves surrounding his home. The narrative delves into the doctor’s internal struggles, revealing his fears of mortality and his desire to protect Pansie from the harsh realities of life. The plot thickens with the arrival of Colonel Dabney, a cantankerous old man who believes he has a claim to the doctor’s cordial. The colonel’s aggressive demeanor and obsession with the potion create tension, culminating in a confrontation where he demands the doctor hand over the elixir. In a fit of rage, the colonel consumes a large quantity of the cordial, leading to his sudden death. The doctor, horrified by the event, grapples with guilt and the implications of the colonel's demise. The story concludes with the doctor reflecting on the nature of life and death, the fragility of existence, and the bittersweet moments shared with Pansie. The narrative encapsulates the complexities of aging, the search for meaning, and the enduring bonds of family, ultimately leaving readers to ponder the delicate balance between life and death.
By Nathaniel Hawthorne · First published 1864 · Genre: Romance, Gothic Fiction, Psychological Fiction · 3 chapters · 18,062 words
First lines
Dr. Dolliver, a worthy personage of extreme antiquity, was aroused rather prematurely, one summer morning, by the shouts of the child Pansie, in an adjoining chamber, summoning old Martha (who performed the duties of nurse, housekeeper, and kitchen-maid, in the Doctor's establishment) to take up her little ladyship and dress her. The old gentleman woke with more than his customary alacrity, and, after taking a moment to gather his wits about him, pulled aside the faded moreen curtains of his ancient bed, and thrust his head into a beam of sunshine that caused him to wink and withdraw it again. This transitory glimpse of good Dr. Dolliver showed a flannel night-cap, fringed round with stray locks of silvery white hair, and surmounting a meagre and duskily yellow visage, which was crossed and criss-crossed with a record of his long life in wrinkles, faithfully written, no doubt, but with such cramped chirography of Father Time that the purport was illegible. It seemed hardly worth while for the patriarch to get out of bed any more, and bring his forlorn shadow into the summer day that was made for younger folks. The Doctor, however, was by no means of that opinion, being considerably encouraged towards the toil of living twenty-four hours longer by the comparative ease with which he found himself going through the usually painful process of bestirring his rusty joints (stiffened by the very rest and sleep that should have made them pliable) and putting them in a condition to bear his weight upon the floor.
What this Textopian page supports
The Dolliver Romance is listed on Textopian as a novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne, dated 1864 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne
- Date: 1864 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romance, Gothic Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction
- Length: 18,062 words
- Structure: 3 chapters, 125 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Confusing
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Dolliver Romance by Nathaniel Hawthorne
- 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 Dolliver Romance?
- How does this novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Romance first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Sister Years by Nathaniel Hawthorne
- The Old Manse by Nathaniel Hawthorne
- The Love Charm by Johann Ludwig Tieck
- Alice Doanes Appeal by Nathaniel Hawthorne
- The House Of The Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne
- The Wives Of The Dead by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Genres
- Romance — The central plot revolves around romantic relationships and emotional connections between characters.
- Gothic Fiction — The story incorporates elements of the supernatural and explores dark themes, typical of Gothic literature.
- Psychological Fiction — The narrative delves into the inner thoughts and emotions of characters, examining their psychological states.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style is characterized by its focus on character development and thematic depth rather than plot-driven action.
Tags
Romance · Short Story · American Literature · 19th Century Fiction · Gothic Fiction · Supernatural Elements · Mystery · Psychological Thriller · Dark Fantasy · Literary Fiction · Symbolism · Allegory
Contents
- A Scene from the Dolliver Romance
- Another Scene from the Dolliver Romance
- Another Fragment of the Dolliver Romance