Flint: His Faults, His Friendships and His Fortunes

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

21690

Title

Flint: His Faults, His Friendships and His Fortunes

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in the coastal New England village of Nepaug, this novel follows the fortunes of Jonathan Flint, a cynical intellectual who clashes with the local community. Through a series of interconnected chapters, the story explores themes of friendship, jealousy, and the consequences of unchecked emotion, culminating in a tragic suicide that forces the characters to confront their own faults and the fragility of human relationships.

Summary up to 500 words

In Maud Wilder Goodwin's *Flint: His Faults, His Friendships and His Fortunes*, the narrative unfolds through the journal of Miss Susan Standish, chronicling a turbulent summer at the Nepaug Inn. The story centers on a gathering of disparate souls bound by no sacred or secular ties, yet united by a shared Bohemian spirit and financial necessity. Among them is Jonathan Flint, a Harvard scholar suffering from a fever and mocked by locals, who finds solace in the arrival of his old friend, Philip Brady. The plot thickens with the introduction of the Davitt family, particularly Leonard Davitt, who is hopelessly in love with the innkeeper's daughter, Tilly Marsden. Tensions escalate when Leonard witnesses Flint with Winifred Anstice, mistaking the spirited girl for his beloved Tilly. This misunderstanding, compounded by Leonard's brooding jealousy, spirals into a tragic climax where he commits suicide by shooting himself outside the inn, believing he has been wronged by the very people he cherished. His death leaves a profound scar on the community, devastating his mother and haunting Winifred. The novel concludes with a reflection on the strange pairings of the characters: the irreligious Flint marrying the spirited Winifred, and the religious Philip marrying the unconventional Nora Costello, a Salvation Army member. Susan Standish resolves the chaotic summer with her own decision to marry the pragmatic Dr. Cricket, offering a bittersweet resolution to the 'day of small things' that led to such a large tragedy. Through this narrative, Goodwin explores themes of misunderstanding, the destructive power of jealousy, the indifference of fate, and the complex interplay between social standing and personal happiness.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Fiction