Under The Cloak by Rhoda Broughton
Under the Cloak is a novel by Rhoda Broughton, first published in 1881. It tells the story of a young woman, Mary, who is forced to flee her home in Ireland after her father is accused of a crime he did not commit. She finds refuge in the home of a kindly English family, the Larkins, and soon falls in love with their son, John. However, Mary's past catches up with her and she is forced to flee again, this time to London. There, she is taken in by a mysterious woman, Mrs. Grey, who helps her to find a job and a place to live. As Mary's life in London progresses, she discovers that Mrs. Grey is not who she seems and that she is connected to Mary's past in Ireland. The novel follows Mary as she navigates her new life in London and attempts to uncover the truth about her past.
By Rhoda Broughton · First published 1873 · Genre: Romance, Historical Fiction, Drama · 4,027 words
First lines
IF there is a thing in the world that my soul hateth, it is a long night journey by rail. In the old coaching days I do not think that I should have minded it, passing swiftly through a summer night on the top of a speedy coach with the star arch black-blue above one's head, the sweet smell of earth and her numberless flowers and grasses in one's nostrils, and the pleasant trot, trot, trot, trot, of the four strong horses in one's ears. But by railway! in a little stuffy compartment, with nothing to amuse you if you keep awake; with a dim lamp hanging above you, tantalizing you with the idea that you can read by its light, and when you try, satisfactorily proving to you that you cannot; and, if you sleep, breaking your neck, or at least stiffening it, by the brutal arrangement of the hard cushions.
What this Textopian page supports
Under The Cloak is listed on Textopian as a novel by Rhoda Broughton, dated 1873 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Rhoda Broughton
- Date: 1873 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Drama, Mystery
- Length: 4,027 words
- Structure: 1 section, 104 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Under The Cloak by Rhoda Broughton
- 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 Under The Cloak?
- How does this novel by Rhoda Broughton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Romance first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Romance — The book follows the story of a young woman's romantic journey as she navigates the complexities of love and relationships.
- Historical Fiction — The book is set in the 19th century and follows the social conventions of the time period.
- Drama — The book follows the protagonist's emotional journey as she navigates the complexities of love and relationships.
- Mystery — The book follows the protagonist's attempts to uncover the truth behind a mysterious cloak.
Tags
mystery · suspense · romance · historical · Victorian · drama · intrigue · secrets · betrayal · identity · love · loss