
A crisp winter landscape frames the opening of this turn‑of‑the‑century tale, as a luxurious train winds through snow‑bound Thessaly. Inside the drawing‑room car, two elegant women of high society and their companion disembark with the help of a courteous porter, their fur‑clad silhouettes contrasting with the bleak, icy surroundings. Their poise and the subtle dance of manners hint at the wealth and influence that surround them, while the bustling station scene introduces a starkly different world of laborers battling the cold.
Meanwhile, a weary traveler named Boyce wrestles with a cumbersome suitcase, his frustration mirroring the harshness of the environment. When he spots an old acquaintance, Lawton, among the struggling laborers, a reluctant partnership forms to ease the burden. This encounter sets the stage for a narrative that explores class divisions, unexpected alliances, and the quiet resilience required to navigate both the physical and social storms of the age.
Language
en
Duration
~11 hours (635K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by David Widger from page images generously provided by Google Books
Release date
2017-08-11
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1856–1898
Best known for the vivid novel The Damnation of Theron Ware, this American journalist and novelist wrote sharp, psychologically rich fiction about ambition, belief, and social change. His career carried him from upstate New York to London, where he continued writing until his death in 1898.
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