The Grim House

Mary Louisa MolesworthProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.8

Word count: 333K words
Chapters: 34

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Grim House by Mrs. MolesworthAuthor: Molesworth, Mrs., 1839-1921,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Oct 3, 2013

Editor's review

The Grim House is an English novel by Mrs. Molesworth, made available as a public-domain ebook by Project Gutenberg. Mrs. Molesworth was a late 19th- to early 20th-century British author of children's and family fiction, and this work continues the genre's familiar elements: a domestic atmosphere, a young person's perspective, and an air of mystery. The title itself, The Grim House, suggests a house weighed down by gloom or secrets, and the story typically revolves around family relationships, curiosity, and growing up. Its value lies in showcasing the narrative appeal and moral concerns of late Victorian to Edwardian family fiction; the language is relatively plain, making it a light sample for getting to know the genre. Note that this ebook is a digitized original text and usually contains no modern introduction or notes, so readers must enter the period context on their own. Overall it suits readers interested in old-fashioned family fiction rather than those seeking the strong plot conflicts of modern novels.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy Victorian to Edwardian family fiction
English-language readers curious about Mrs. Molesworth's style
Learners seeking relatively plain English texts for extended reading
Browsers interested in old-style houses and family mystery themes

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer fast-paced modern fiction with strong conflict
English beginners who need modern notes and introductions
Readers expecting horror, thrills, or strong Gothic stimulation

Reading tips

Read a few pages first to get a feel for the narrative pace before deciding whether to read it all; avoid judging it by modern-fiction expectations.
Pay attention to the depiction of family relationships and the young person's perspective; this is key to understanding the genre's features.
When you encounter period language or details of daily life, consult background material on late 19th-century British society.
If using it for English study, excerpt characters' dialogue chapter by chapter to get a feel for the language habits of old-fashioned family fiction.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book a Gothic horror novel?

The title may suggest a gloomy house, but Mrs. Molesworth's works generally belong to family and children's fiction; the suspense mostly serves themes of family relationships and growing up rather than aiming for horror or thrills. If you expect strong Gothic stimulation, the reading experience may not match your expectations.

Who is Mrs. Molesworth?

Mrs. Molesworth (1839–1921) was a British author known mainly for children's and family fiction. Her works were largely aimed at young readers, with plain language and an emphasis on domestic atmosphere and moral growth. This ebook provides no further biographical details; for in-depth research, consult authoritative literary reference works.

Does this edition include modern notes or an introduction?

This is a public-domain electronic text prepared by Project Gutenberg, usually retaining only the original content without modern scholarly introductions, notes, or background explanations. Readers who need period context should consult other materials or choose an edition with a scholarly introduction.

Is it suitable for children?

Mrs. Molesworth's works were originally mostly aimed at young readers, but the language and period setting of this novel still pose a distance for today's children, and it lacks modern notes. If reading it to children, it is advisable for an adult to look through it first, explain period language and details of daily life as needed, and then judge whether it is suitable.

Comments

Find this book

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Mary Louisa Molesworth Author · British · 1839–1921

Mrs. Molesworth (1839–1921), born Mary Louisa Molesworth, was an English writer of children's literature in the Victorian era. She was born in Rotterdam in 1839 and died in London in 1921, and was a prolific author; this site holds 57 of her works. Her representative books include The Cuckoo Clock, The Tapestry Room: A Child's Romance, Four Ghost Stories, The Carved Lions, Grandmother Dear: A Book for Boys and Girls, Christmas-Tree Land, and The Palace in the Garden. Her works are often classed as inspirational coming-of-age stories, usually centering on children and unfolding in settings where domestic life and fantasy intertwine. Her warm, delicate style combines imagination with a sense of everyday reality, and she has been called "the Jane Austen of the nursery." Public information is limited, but the sheer number of her works shows her lasting influence on child readers of her time.