Changeling, and Other Stories

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

59892

Title

Changeling, and Other Stories

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in the decadent, noir-infused New York of the early 20th century, this collection of stories by Donn Byrne explores the thin line between justice and vengeance. Through tales of courtroom drama, supernatural trials, and moral ambiguity, the narrative delves into the complexities of human nature, the corruption of the legal system, and the enduring power of love and redemption amidst a backdrop of sin and mystery.

Summary up to 500 words

In Donn Byrne's *Changeling, and Other Stories*, the narrative opens with the high-stakes trial of Anna Janssen, a chorus girl accused of murdering her lover, Alastair de Vries. Her defense, led by the formidable attorney Howard Donegan, takes an unexpected turn when he refuses to cross-examine a key witness, sparking public outrage. The courtroom drama serves as a frame for a flashback to the tragic romance between Janssen and a fisherman named McCarthy on a tropical island. After De Vries abandons Janssen for a new conquest, she kills him in a drunken fit of pique. McCarthy rescues her from sharks, and the two marry in a solemn ceremony witnessed by a turtle, living happily until McCarthy is forced to return her to justice. In court, the judge, influenced by a ghostly vision of a murdered woman, sentences Janssen to life imprisonment rather than execution, acknowledging her transformation and the strength of her love. Another story follows Matthew Kerrigan, a wealthy businessman haunted by the accidental death of his friend Leonard Holt. Consumed by guilt and superstition, Kerrigan seeks the aid of a Greek monk, Sergius, to summon Holt's spirit. The ritual transforms into a terrifying ordeal of justice, where Kerrigan feels the weight of his conscience and the supernatural presence of the dead, forcing him to confront the reality of his actions and the limits of his faith. The collection weaves these narratives with rich descriptions of the era's nightlife, the corruption of the legal system, and the profound impact of personal morality on the soul. Through tales like "Changeling" and "By Ordeal of Justice," Byrne explores themes of redemption, the persistence of guilt, and the intersection of the mundane and the mystical, presenting a world where the boundaries between sin and salvation are often blurred by the unseen forces of the past.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Fiction
• Irish Literature