The Great House by Stanley J. Weyman

The narrative unfolds in 1840s Paris, centering on a young girl, Mary Audley, who reflects on her solitary life in a dormitory for girls. On her birthday, she receives an invitation from the Princess Czartoriski to join a gathering, where she meets Lord Audley, a distant relative. Their encounter leads to a budding connection, but Mary is initially unaware of her family's complicated history and her uncle's estrangement from her father. As the story progresses, Mary moves to England to live with her uncle, John Audley, at the Gatehouse, a once-grand estate now in disrepair. The narrative explores themes of class, identity, and the struggle for social justice, particularly through the lens of Mary’s interactions with Etruria, her maid, and Mr. Colet, the local curate. Colet's passionate sermons about love and social responsibility resonate with Mary, igniting her desire to contribute to the betterment of society. Basset, a family friend, harbors feelings for Mary but struggles with his own insecurities and societal expectations. His jealousy of Lord Audley complicates their relationship, leading to misunderstandings and tension. The story culminates in a confrontation between Basset and Mary, where she firmly establishes her boundaries, asserting her independence and commitment to her ideals. The backdrop of social upheaval in England, marked by the Corn Laws and the plight of the working class, serves as a critical context for the characters' personal struggles. The narrative weaves together themes of love, duty, and the quest for a meaningful life, ultimately challenging the characters to confront their beliefs and the societal structures that shape their lives.

By Stanley J. Weyman · First published 1893 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Romance · 40 chapters · 153,329 words

First lines

On an evening in March in the 'forties of last century a girl looked down on the Seine from an attic window on the Ile St. Louis. The room behind her-or beside her, for she sat on the window-ledge, with her back against one side of the opening and her feet against the other-was long, whitewashed from floor to ceiling, lighted by five gaunt windows, and as cold to the eye as charity to the recipient. Along each side of the chamber ran ten pallet beds. A black door broke the wall at one end, and above the door hung a crucifix. A painting of a Station of the Cross adorned the wall at the other end. Beyond this picture the room had no ornament; it is almost true to say that beyond what has been named it had no furniture. One bed-the bed beside the window at which the girl sat-was screened by a thin curtain which did not reach the floor. This was her bed.

What this Textopian page supports

The Great House is listed on Textopian as a novel by Stanley J. Weyman, dated 1893 CE.

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

• Work type: Novel
• Author: Stanley J. Weyman
• Date: 1893 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Romance, Drama, Mystery
• Length: 153,329 words
• Structure: 40 chapters, 2,732 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Great House by Stanley J. Weyman
• 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 Great House?
• How does this novel by Stanley J. Weyman fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

• Sophia by Stanley J. Weyman
• The Man In Black by Stanley J. Weyman
• The Castle Inn by Stanley J. Weyman
• Starvecrow Farm by Stanley J. Weyman
• The Story Of Francis Cludde by Stanley J. Weyman
• The Long Night by Stanley J. Weyman

Genres

• Historical Fiction — The novel is set in a historical context, exploring themes and events relevant to its time period.
• Adventure — The plot involves elements of adventure, including quests and challenges faced by the characters.
• Romance — Romantic relationships and emotional connections are central to the character development and plot.
• Drama — The narrative includes intense emotional conflicts and character-driven stories.

Tags

historical fiction · adventure · romance · mystery · suspense · 19th century · British literature · narrative · character-driven · plot twists · social class · family dynamics

Contents

• The Hôtel Lambert-Upstairs
• The Hôtel Lambert-Downstairs
• The Lawyer Abroad
• Homeward Bound
• The London Packet
• Field and Forge
• Mr. John Audley
• The Gatehouse
• Old Things
• New Things
• Tact and Temper
• The Yew Walk
• Peter Pauper
• The Manchester Men
• Strange Bedfellows
• The Great House at Beaudelays
• To the Rescue
• Masks and Faces
• The Corn Law Crisis
• Peter's Return
• Toft at the Butterflies
• My Lord Speaks
• Blore under Weaver
• An Agent of the Old School
• Mary is Lonely
• Missing
• A Footstep in the Hall
• The News from Riddsley
• The Audley Bible
• A Friend in Need
• Ben Bosham
• Mary Makes a Discovery
• The Meeting at the Maypole
• By the Canal
• My Lord Speaks Out
• The Riddsley Election
• A Turn of the Wheel
• Toft's Little Surprise
• The Deed of Renunciation
• "Let Us Make Others Thankful"

More by Stanley J. Weyman

• The Fowl in the Pot (1909)
• Under the Red Robe (1894)
• A Gentleman of France (1896)
• The House of the Wolf (1896)
• From the Memoirs of a Minister of France (1895)
• The Castle Inn (1899)
• Count Hannibal (1894)
• The Long Night (1899)
• All works by Stanley J. Weyman