Subject
Vendetta -- Fiction Books
Best books
George Eliot
The Mill on the Floss
"The Mill on the Floss" by George Eliot is a novel published in 1860. It follows siblings Tom and Maggie Tulliver as they grow up at their family's mill in rural England. Their close but troubled bond is tested by family bankruptcy, forbidden friendships, and conflicting desires. Maggie struggles between her passionate nature and social duty, caught between her intellectual connection with Philip Wakem and her attraction to Stephen Guest. The novel explores the tension between personal yearning and family loyalty in provincial Victorian society.
Zane Grey
To the Last Man
"To the Last Man" by Zane Grey is a western novel published in 1921. Set in Arizona's Tonto Basin, it tells the story of an ancient feud between two frontier families that escalates when one side turns to cattle rustling. Jean Isbel and Lee Jorth lead their respective clans in a relentless war, bound by loyalty and honor. Amidst the bloodshed, young Jean falls hopelessly in love with a girl from the opposing family, separated by an impassable barrier of hatred and violence.
Marie Corelli
Vendetta: A Story of One Forgotten
"Vendetta: A Story of One Forgotten" by Marie Corelli is a romance novel published in 1886. After being mistakenly declared dead during a cholera outbreak, Italian Count Fabio Romani escapes his tomb and discovers his wife and best friend have been conducting an affair. Adopting a new identity as wealthy bachelor Cesare Oliva, the count orchestrates an elaborate scheme of revenge against those who betrayed him. Corelli's second novel became a popular success despite receiving mixed critical reviews.
Prosper Mérimée
Colomba
"Colomba" by Prosper Mérimée is a novella published in 1840. Set in Corsica, it follows Lieutenant Orso della Rebbia as he returns home to face an impossible choice. His sister Colomba demands he avenge their father's death, while an Englishwoman urges him toward peace. Caught between family honor and conscience, Orso must navigate the dangerous world of Corsican vendettas. Using techniques that foreshadow detective fiction, Mérimée crafts a tense narrative of revenge, duty, and moral conflict.
George Washington Cable
The Grandissimes
"The Grandissimes" by George Washington Cable is a novel published in 1880. Set in New Orleans immediately after the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, the story explores the complex racial and class divisions of Creole society through the extended Grandissime family. When Philadelphia abolitionist Joseph Frowenfeld arrives in the city, his friendship with the white Honoré Grandissime challenges the foundations of their slaveholding world. Romance, violence, and tragedy unfold as characters confront the brutal realities beneath their romanticized culture.
Henry Seton Merriman
The Isle of Unrest
"The Isle of Unrest" by Henry Seton Merriman is a novel likely written in the late 19th century. The story unfolds in the atmospheric backdrop of Corsica, exploring themes of violence, social conflict, and the stark realities of life on the island. At its outset, the narrative introduces significant characters, including the deceased Pietro Andrei, whose mysterious death serves as a critical event around which the plot revolves, hinting at deeper tensions within the community. The opening of the novel sets a dark and suspenseful tone as it describes the aftermath of Andrei's murder, presenting a Corsican village grappling with indifference towards violence and loss. As the village gathers around the body, the first signs of family and social ties are explored, particularly through the reactions of Andrei's widow, who transitions from despair to a powerful resolve to seek justice, emphasizing the strong code of honor that permeates Corsican culture. The priest, Abbé Susini, introduces a key perspective on the lawlessness of Corsica, setting the stage for further exploration of justice, revenge, and the historical legacy of the island as the plot unfolds. This rich opening allows readers to anticipate a gripping tale that delves into the complexities of human emotions and societal expectations.
Halliwell Sutcliffe
Shameless Wayne: A Romance of the last Feud of Wayne and Ratcliffe
"Shameless Wayne: A Romance of the last Feud of Wayne and Ratcliffe" by Halliwell Sutcliffe is a historical novel written in the late 19th century. The story unfolds against the backdrop of a fierce family feud on the moors, centered around the titular character, Shameless Wayne, and his family's long-standing rivalry with the Ratcliffes. The narrative introduces themes of love, honor, and vengeance as the characters navigate the tumultuous landscape of their intertwined fates. The opening of the narrative sets a foreboding tone as the Sexton’s wife tolls the death bell for Anthony Wayne, the patriarch of the Wayne family, while expressing contempt for his wife who seems indifferent to his passing. As the storm rages outside, Nell Wayne, his daughter, arrives to mourn her father and prepare for his funeral, revealing her inner turmoil and resolve for revenge against Dick Ratcliffe, who she believes is responsible for her father's death. A moment of tension occurs when Nell decides to confront Ratcliffe directly, armed with a dagger, while also grappling with complicated family dynamics that include her brother Shameless Wayne, who has been drinking and is unaware of the tragedy. The opening chapters effectively engage the reader's interest in the personal and familial struggles that will unfold in the wake of this tragedy.
Alexandre Dumas
La dama de las camelias; Una familia corsa
"La dama de las camelias; Una familia corsa" by Alexandre Dumas is a classic novel written in the mid-19th century. The narrative unfolds around the tragic and poignant story of Margarita Gautier, a beautiful courtesan, and her ill-fated romance with Armando Duval, delving into themes of love, sacrifice, and societal judgment. The opening sets the stage for a deep exploration of human emotion and the consequences of a life intertwined with both beauty and tragedy. At the start of the novel, the narrator reflects on the life and death of Margarita Gautier, drawing the reader into her world as he visits the estate sale following her passing. The scene is filled with rich descriptions, revealing not only the luxurious items that belonged to Margarita but also the social dynamics that surround her life and death. The narrator’s observations unveil Margarita as a figure of fascination and pity, critiquing societal perceptions of courtesans while hinting at her complex past. As he learns about her previous relationships and the loneliness of her final days, the groundwork for the emotional depth of the love story is laid, setting up the inevitable heartbreak that defines both Margarita and Armando’s lives.
Alexandre Dumas
The Corsican Brothers
"The Corsican Brothers" by Alexandre Dumas is a novella published in 1844. It tells the story of Louis and Lucien de Franchi, twin brothers who were conjoined at birth and separated by a surgeon's scalpel. Despite living separate lives—one as a Parisian lawyer, the other rooted in Corsica—they share an extraordinary bond that allows them to feel each other's emotions and physical pain across any distance. When Lucien must mediate a dangerous family vendetta, their supernatural connection becomes increasingly significant.
S. R. (Samuel Rutherford) Crockett
The Grey Man
"The Grey Man" by S. R. Crockett is a historical novel written in the early 20th century. The book centers around Launcelot Kennedy, a young man caught in the midst of a fierce feud between the Kennedies of Cassillis and their rivals, the Bargany faction. This tale is set against the backdrop of the tumultuous and violent feuds that characterized Scottish history in that era, promising themes of loyalty, revenge, and the complexities of family ties. The opening of "The Grey Man" introduces us to Launcelot Kennedy as he recounts a significant incident involving his father, who is drawn into the chaos of a raid on the Tower of Ardstinchar by the Cassillis faction against their rivals, the Bargany. As they witness the burning of the castle, Launcelot learns the harsh realities of their feudal loyalties and enmities, especially when confronted with the concept of vengeance sworn by Gilbert Kennedy of Bargany. This initial chapter establishes not only the violent tensions between the factions but also lays the groundwork for Launcelot's evolving sense of identity and his place within this fractured world.
John Fox
A Cumberland Vendetta
"A Cumberland Vendetta" by John Fox Jr. is a historical novel likely written in the early 20th century. The story is set in the tumultuous Appalachian Mountains, where it chronicles the violent feud between two families, the Stetsons and the Lewallens, against the backdrop of the rugged wilderness. Central to the narrative are Rome Stetson, a conflicted young man torn between family loyalty and personal feelings, and Martha Lewallen, the daughter of his family's rival, who becomes a pivotal figure in the unfolding drama. At the start of the novel, the reader is introduced to Rome and his half-brother Isom as they navigate their daily lives in the woods. The opening chapters hint at the simmering tensions between the Stetsons and the Lewallens, touching on themes of childhood innocence, attempts to escape violence, and the complexities of familial loyalty. Martha Lewallen's entrance into the story adds a layer of personal conflict as Rome grapples with a burgeoning connection to her, even amidst the feuds and enmities that define their families. As Rome's mother anxiously awaits a chance for retribution for past wrongs, the specter of violence looms over the narrative, building a sense of impending conflict as loyalties are tested and fates intertwine.
Halliwell Sutcliffe
Storm
"Storm" by Halliwell Sutcliffe is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story unfolds in a rugged, rural landscape marked by ancient traditions and struggles against the so-called Lost Folk, a group known for their thievery and violence. The central character, Hardcastle, the Master of Logie, confronts both physical adversaries and deep-rooted fears as he grapples with his lineage’s legacy while facing the challenges presented by a notorious village and his own inner turmoil. The opening of "Storm" introduces Hardcastle as he makes his way home through misty, autumn-tinged highlands filled with the weight of history. As he approaches the village of Weathersett, he remembers the tales of the Lost Folk, who have long terrorized local farmers. After a tense encounter with three gaunt men representing this faction, he manages to fight them off, marking the beginning of a conflict that will ripple through his community. Simultaneously, the narrative weaves in the lonelier journey of a pedlar named Donald and his daughter, Causleen, who find themselves entangled in the growing tensions at Logie. This intertwining of lives amid a backdrop of myth and reality sets the stage for a gripping tale of pride, fear, and the looming threat of war with the Lost Folk.
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