TY - BOOK AU - Harte,Bret TI - Clarence AV - PS PY - 2006/// CY - Salt Lake City, UT PB - Project Gutenberg KW - American fiction -- 19th century KW - Man-woman relationships -- Fiction KW - California -- Fiction KW - Marriage -- Fiction KW - Mines and mineral resources -- Fiction N1 - Release date is 2006-05-22; Produced by Donald Lainson; David Widger; Original publication data not identified N2 - "Clarence" by Bret Harte is a novel written during the late 19th century. The story revolves around Clarence Brant, the affluent president of the Robles Land Company, who is grappling with feelings of loneliness and betrayal just a year into his marriage to the wealthy widow of John Peyton. The tumultuous backdrop of antebellum America further complicates his life, as his wife is a Southern sympathizer while he holds steadfast Unionist beliefs, leading to personal and political conflict. The opening of the novel introduces Clarence as he leaves a theater, reflecting on his troubled marriage amidst the charged atmosphere of impending civil war. His introspection reveals a growing sense of disconnection from his wife, whose political affiliations clash with his own. The narrative unfolds as he receives a warning about her secret activities hinting at treasonous connections, leading to a confrontation with a former acquaintance and actress, Susy. As tensions rise both in his personal life and the broader national conflict, Clarence must navigate the complexities of loyalty, love, and duty—setting the stage for an emotionally charged drama steeped in the turmoil of a fractured nation. (This is an automatically generated summary.) UR - https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2635 ER -