
Set against the turmoil of the American Revolution, this novel follows Hugh Wynne, a Free Quaker whose conscience is torn between pacifist principles and the fierce call for liberty. As the colonies erupt into conflict, Hugh navigates a world where friendships, loyalties, and love are tested by the very ideals he strives to uphold. Through vivid scenes of bustling taverns, clandestine meetings, and the harsh frontier, the story captures the everyday lives of those who must choose between quiet devotion and bold action.
The narrative delves deeply into the inner struggles of its characters, especially the earnest yet conflicted Hugh, whose choices reflect the broader moral dilemmas of the era. Richly detailed descriptions of period dress, speech, and customs bring the late‑18th‑century setting to life, while the interplay of personal ambition and communal duty keeps the plot moving with steady tension. Listeners will feel both the excitement of revolutionary fervor and the quiet resilience of those who seek a different path.
Full title
Hugh Wynne, Free Quaker Sometime Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel on the Staff of his Excellency General Washington
Language
en
Duration
~13 hours (793K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Text file produced by Tom Allen, Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team HTML file produced by David Widger
Release date
2004-09-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1829–1914
A celebrated Philadelphia physician who also built a wide literary career, he wrote historical fiction, short stories, poems, and memoir-like sketches shaped by a sharp eye for character and American life. His best-known fiction includes Hugh Wynne, Free Quaker, a once hugely popular historical novel set in Revolutionary Philadelphia.
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