The Octoroon by M. E. Braddon

“The Octoroon” by M. E. Braddon is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story revolves around Cora Leslie, a young woman of mixed heritage, during a time when the societal norms and prejudices of the American South regarding race and slavery create a complex backdrop. As Cora navigates her existence, she confronts the stark realities of her identity and the implications it holds for her relationships and place in society, particularly with her friend Adelaide Horton and those surrounding their affluent, Southern lifestyle. At the start of the novel, Cora is introduced during a farewell ball hosted by Mrs. Montresor, where she and her friend Adelaide are celebrated figures. However, Cora's enchanting beauty is soon overshadowed by the revelation of her heritage—a secret that sets her apart in a society rigidly divided by racial lines. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes evident that Cora is not only navigating the challenges of love and friendship but also contending with the traumas inflicted by a system that deems her an outcast because of her African lineage. The early chapters establish a sense of impending conflict, hinting at deeper themes of identity, belonging, and the moral dilemmas faced by both the characters and the society they inhabit. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

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About this eBook

Author Braddon, M. E. (Mary Elizabeth), 1835-1915
Illustrator Cox, Charles A. (Charles Arthur), 1829-1901
Title The Octoroon
Original Publication Chicago: Homewood Publishing Company, 1900.
Credits Peter Becker, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Reading Level Reading ease score: 79.3 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
Language English
LoC Class PR: Language and Literatures: English literature
Subject Racially mixed people -- Fiction
Subject Slavery -- Louisiana -- History -- 19th century -- Fiction
Category Text
eBook-No. 74484
Release Date
Last Update Sep 30, 2024
Copyright Public domain in the USA.
Downloads 359 downloads in the last 30 days.

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