Venus in Boston: A Romance of City Life

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

28267

Title

Venus in Boston: A Romance of City Life

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

George Thompson's 1849 romance follows orphan Fanny Aubrey as she navigates the perils of Boston's underworld, from street-side fruit selling to a sinister rescue by a soldier, and eventual refuge with a wealthy family. A tale of city life, virtue tested by lust, and ultimate redemption.

Summary up to 500 words

Set in the harsh winter of mid-19th century Boston, George Thompson's *Venus in Boston: A Romance of City Life* explores the stark conflict between innocence and the pervasive corruption of urban vice. The narrative centers on Fanny Aubrey, a fourteen-year-old orphan selling fruit in the snow to support her blind grandfather and her young brother, Charley. Their poverty is interrupted by Corporal Grimsby, a benevolent but eccentric old soldier who provides them with food and shelter. Grimsby's kindness is tested when he rescues Fanny from Mr. Tickels, a lecherous hypocrite who attempts to abduct her. Following the death of Fanny's grandfather, the orphans are taken in by the wealthy Mr. Goldworthy and his virtuous daughter, Alice, who offer them a safe haven. However, danger returns when Tickels, aided by the villainous Jew Mike, abducts Fanny and transports her to the 'Chambers of Love,' a den of vice in Warren Street. Grimsby tracks them down, leading to a dramatic confrontation where Mike avenges his unpaid labor by casting Tickels into a coal hole. The novel concludes with Fanny restored to safety under the Goldworthys' care, while Tickels perishes in his dungeon and the other villains face their fates. Through these events, Thompson illustrates the fragility of innocence against the backdrop of Boston's criminal underworld, emphasizing that even in a city of sin, acts of courage and benevolence can triumph over depravity.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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data/epubs/pg28267.epub

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Categories

• Romance
• Fiction