Ready Reference Treatise: Edgar Huntly

By Raja Sharma

“Edgar Huntly” by Charles Brockden Brown was first published in 1799. It is subtitled “Memoirs of a Sleepwalker.”

The book has the distinction of being one of the earliest works of American fiction. This is the first book in the history of America that depicts the tense relationship between Americans and Indians on the frontier.

Ready Reference Treatise: Edgar Huntly
Copyright
Chapter One: Introduction
Chapter Two: Plot Overview
Chapter Three: Major Characters
Chapter Four: Complete Summary
Chapter Five: Critical Analysis

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raja Sharma
• Release date: Sep 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311170996

Raja Sharma

Raja Sharma is a retired college lecturer.He has taught English Literature to University students for more than two decades.His students are scattered all over the world, and it is noticeable that he is in contact with more than ninety thousand of his students.

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Ready Reference Treatise: Edgar Huntly

Copyright

Ready Reference Treatise: Edgar Huntly

Raja Sharma

Copyright@2015 Raja Sharma

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Chapter One: Introduction

Edgar Huntly by Charles Brockden Brown was first published in 1799. It is subtitled Memoirs of a Sleepwalker.

The book has the distinction of being one of the earliest works of American fiction. This is the first book in the history of America that depicts the tense relationship between Americans and Indians on the frontier.

The novel does get its inspiration from the Gothic fiction, but the author has replaced the castles and crypts with the jagged mountains and deep valleys. The description of the hostile American wilderness is admirable.

It is a kind of detective story, but at the same time it investigates the gender relations, violence at the frontier, ethnic and religious clashes, and the complex psychology of the titular character ‘Edgar Huntly.’

Like the central character of the novel, Brown was also a Quaker. He knew everything about the frontier violence, commerce and trade, and disputed land claims. Brown was involved with the New York group of The Friendly Club.

There were both male and female members and Brown got enough opportunity to develop friendships and intellectual exchanges. While being active with the group, Brown got exposed to Enlightenment thought. However, most of his novels describe the American experience.

In the present book, the author concentrates on sleepwalking. It is said that Brown had read a lot on the subject. He had gathered a lot of information about it.

Brown had worked very hard on the present book but when it was first published it did not make much money. It remained a moderate classical success and it was mostly admired by the scholars, authors, and intellectuals.

In the recent years, the book has drawn a lot of critical interest. The book is widely recognized in the study circles and it is often included in college and university courses about the American novel and American history. There is no doubt that it is one of the few books which tell the reader about the period it describes.

Chapter Two: Plot Overview

Edgar Huntly, the titular character, happens to be a young man. He lives with his uncle and sisters. They are his only remaining family. They live on a farm outside Philadelphia.

Huntly’s friend Waldegrave happens to have been murdered. He is determined to find the murderer. His friend had been killed near an elm tree.

One night, Huntly happens to be walking near that tree. He suddenly sees Clithero, a servant from a neighboring farm. The servant is half-dressed. He is digging in the ground, but he is weeping loudly while digging.

Huntly immediately