The Waif Woman

Name: The Waif Woman
Author: Robert Louis Stevenson

The novel follows the story of a young woman, Mary, who is abandoned by her family and left to fend for herself in the wilds of Scotland. She is taken in by a kindly old woman, who teaches her the ways of the land and how to survive. Mary soon discovers that she has a special gift, the ability to communicate with animals. She uses this gift to help her survive in the wild, and to protect her from the dangers of the land. As Mary grows older, she meets a young man, John, who is also living in the wilds. The two become close, and eventually fall in love. But their love is threatened by the secrets of Mary's past, and the danger of the wilds. The novel follows Mary and John as they struggle to survive in the wilds, and to find a way to be together. Along the way, they discover the secrets of Mary's past, and the truth about the mysterious Waif Woman.

By Robert Louis Stevenson · First published 1916 · Genre: Adventure, Romance, Fantasy · 7,787 words

First lines

This is a tale of Iceland, the isle of stories, and of a thing that befell in the year of the coming there of Christianity.

In the spring of that year a ship sailed from the South Isles to traffic, and fell becalmed inside Snowfellness. The winds had speeded her; she was the first comer of the year; and the fishers drew alongside to hear the news of the south, and eager folk put out in boats to see the merchandise and make prices. From the doors of the hall on Frodis Water, the house folk saw the ship becalmed and the boats about her, coming and going; and the merchants from the ship could see the smoke go up and the men and women trooping to their meals in the hall.

What this Textopian page supports

The Waif Woman is listed on Textopian as a novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, dated 1916 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
Date: 1916 CE
Language: English
Genres: Adventure, Romance, Fantasy, Mystery, Historical Fiction
Length: 7,787 words
Structure: 1 section, 139 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Adventure — The Waif Woman follows the story of a woman who embarks on a journey of self-discovery, encountering many obstacles and adventures along the way.
Romance — The Waif Woman features a romantic subplot between the protagonist and a mysterious stranger she meets on her journey.
Fantasy — The Waif Woman contains elements of fantasy, such as magical creatures and supernatural events.
Mystery — The Waif Woman contains a mystery element, as the protagonist attempts to uncover the truth about her past.