The Great Shadow

Name: The Great Shadow
Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The narrative follows Jock Calder, a farmer living on the Scottish border during the Napoleonic Wars. He reflects on the changes in society and technology, particularly the advent of the railway and the end of prolonged warfare. Jock recounts his childhood experiences, including a significant event involving a French invasion scare that leads to his enrollment in a local academy, where he befriends Jim Horscroft, the doctor's son. As Jock matures, he becomes enamored with his cousin Edie, who visits from Eyemouth. Their relationship is complicated by her whimsical nature and the arrival of Bonaventure de Lissac, a mysterious Frenchman who lodges with Jock's family. De Lissac captivates both Jock and Edie with his charm and tales of adventure, but his true identity as a colonel in Napoleon's army remains concealed. The story escalates as Napoleon escapes from exile, reigniting conflict in Europe. Jock and Jim enlist in the army, driven by a desire for adventure and a sense of duty. They find themselves at the Battle of Waterloo, where they face the realities of war. Jim, still harboring feelings for Edie, becomes increasingly obsessed with avenging her perceived betrayal by de Lissac. During the battle, Jim confronts de Lissac, leading to a tragic encounter that results in both men's deaths. Jock, witnessing the chaos and loss, grapples with the futility of war and the personal cost of their ambitions. The narrative concludes with Jock returning home, reflecting on the impact of war on their lives and the enduring shadow of Napoleon's legacy. Ultimately, the story explores themes of love, loyalty, and the harsh realities of conflict, set against the backdrop of a transformative period in European history.

By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle · First published 1892 · Genre: Adventure, Mystery, Historical Fiction · 15 chapters · 55,447 words

First lines

It is strange to me, Jock Calder of West Inch, to feel that though now, in the very centre of the nineteenth century, I am but five-and-fifty years of age, and though it is only once in a week perhaps that my wife can pluck out a little grey bristle from over my ear, yet I have lived in a time when the thoughts and the ways of men were as different as though it were another planet from this. For when I walk in my fields I can see, down Berwick way, the little fluffs of white smoke which tell me of this strange new hundred-legged beast, with coals for food and a thousand men in its belly, for ever crawling over the border. On a shiny day I can see the glint of the brass work as it takes the curve near Corriemuir; and then, as I look out to sea, there is the same beast again, or a dozen of them maybe, leaving a trail of black in the air and of white in the water, and swimming in the face of the wind as easily as a salmon up the Tweed. Such a sight as that would have struck my good old father speechless with wrath as well as surprise; for he was so stricken with the fear of offending the Creator that he was chary of contradicting Nature, and always held the new thing to be nearly akin to the blasphemous. As long as God made the horse, and a man down Birmingham way the engine, my good old dad would have stuck by the saddle and the spurs.

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The Great Shadow is listed on Textopian as a novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, dated 1892 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Date: 1892 CE
Language: English
Genres: Adventure, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Drama, Fantasy
Length: 55,447 words
Structure: 15 chapters, 703 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Genres

Adventure — The plot involves a journey and exploration, typical of adventure narratives.
Mystery — The story contains elements of suspense and intrigue, characteristic of mystery genres.
Historical Fiction — The setting and context reflect historical events and figures, aligning with historical fiction.
Drama — The themes explore human emotions and conflicts, which are central to dramatic literature.