Hagar

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

79095

Title

Hagar

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in Ohio during the Civil War, this novel follows a young man who rescues a woman from an assailant, only to discover she is his adopted sister. As their relationship deepens, a tragic shooting interrupts their happiness, leaving the veteran protagonist to spend decades in seclusion trying to solve the mystery of her death.

Summary up to 500 words

Published in 1889, James Arthur MacKnight's 'Hagar' opens in Cleveland, Ohio, in the autumn of 1862. A shabbily dressed young man travels alone near the city, pausing to bathe his feet in a stream. He is startled by a woman's cry for help and rushes to a nearby lane, where he finds a burly man dragging a young woman through the bushes. The stranger intervenes, striking the attacker with a staff. Although the man initially overpowers the youth, the rescued woman seizes the staff and strikes the attacker's head, causing him to fall. The stranger helps the terrified girl, Hagar, to her feet and they walk together toward her home. Hagar reveals her father is the Rev. Dr. Taine. Upon arrival, Hagar's mother, Mrs. Taine, immediately suspects the stranger is a suitor and interrogates her daughter. Hagar defends her rescuer, leading to a confrontation where she declares she will no longer endure her mother's tyranny. Later, the stranger is revealed to be James Taine, Hagar's adopted brother. James confesses his love for Hagar, but his father forbids the union, citing their adoption as an impediment. Despite the father's objections, James remains determined. The narrative shifts to a supper scene where the family discusses the attack. A minister, Mr. Smiles, speculates the stranger might be a deserter or a refugee slave, but Dr. Taine defends him as a man of genuine character. Meanwhile, James's friend Mark Kilbourne expresses dislike for the stranger, suspecting hypocrisy. Mrs. Taine reveals her own dissatisfaction with her life and her desire to travel, hinting at her wealth and ambition. The story then focuses on James's friend Spencer, who is engaged to Hagar. They discuss their future, with Spencer expressing regret that Hagar's fortune prevents their dream of a humble life. They debate religion, favoring action over creed. Their conversation is interrupted by a stranger claiming to deliver a message for Hagar's mother, Hope Vincent. Before Spencer can respond, the stranger fires two pistol shots, mortally wounding Hagar. She dies in Spencer's arms. Years later, Spencer writes from New York slums, revealing that the shooter was Belle Ross, a woman who had been supported by Hagar's fortune. Ross confessed to the murder out of revenge for a lover she lost and her own starvation. The novel concludes with James spending his life in seclusion, unable to solve the mystery of Hagar's death.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Religion
• Fiction
• Social Issues