Alonzo and Melissa; Or, The Unfeeling Father: An American Tale

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

28112

Title

Alonzo and Melissa; Or, The Unfeeling Father: An American Tale

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in post-Revolutionary Connecticut, this sentimental tale follows Alonzo, a romantic young man who falls deeply in love with the gentle Melissa. When she dies of consumption while visiting her uncle in Charleston, Alonzo is devastated. The story explores themes of grief, parental tyranny, and the enduring power of love, culminating in a miraculous resurrection that allows their union.

Summary up to 500 words

Set against the backdrop of the American Revolution, *Alonzo and Melissa* tells the tragic and ultimately redemptive tale of two young men from Connecticut, Alonzo and his friend Edgar, who graduate from Yale. While Edgar pursues the ministry, the romantic Alonzo remains in Connecticut, where he becomes enamored with Edgar's sister, the sixteen-year-old Melissa. Though not a striking beauty, Melissa possesses a pensive mildness and delightful vivacity that captivate Alonzo. Their bond deepens through solitary walks by the sea, where they exchange tender glances amidst the beauty of nature. A rival suitor, the wealthy and fashionable Beauman, also courts Melissa, but Alonzo's feelings are portrayed as far deeper and more devoted. Tragedy strikes when Melissa is sent to her uncle in Charleston to recover her health. There, she succumbs to consumption at the age of eighteen. Heartbroken, Alonzo flees to the army and eventually finds himself a prisoner on a British prison ship following a naval engagement. In this gloomy confinement, he meets Henry Malcomb, a fellow prisoner whose story mirrors Alonzo's own longing and sorrow. Through a series of events involving family secrets and the interference of rivals, the full truth of Melissa's death and the circumstances surrounding it are revealed. In a turn of events characteristic of the sentimental genre, the narrative resolves with a miraculous resurrection. Melissa is brought back to life, rising from her grave to embrace her grieving lover. The story concludes with the couple reunited, celebrating a victory over sorrow. The tale serves as a moral lesson on reliance on divine will amidst affliction, affirming the triumph of Providence and enduring affection while avoiding indecorous stimulants and appealing to the refined sensibilities of the reader.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Romance
• History
• Fiction
• Gothic Fiction