Project Gutenberg
2006-03-27
Public domain in the USA.
162
Harte, Bret
1836
1902
Harte, Francis Bret
Colonel Starbottle's Client
Colonel Starbottle's client -- The postmistress of Laurel Run -- A night at "Hays" -- Johnson's "old woman" -- The new assistant at Pine Clearing school -- In a pioneer restaurant -- A treasure of the galleon -- Out of a pioneer's trunk --The ghosts of Stukeley castle
Produced by Donald Lainson; David Widger
"Colonel Starbottle's Client" by Bret Harte is a novella written in the late 19th century. This narrative offers a glimpse into the life of Colonel Starbottle, a flamboyant attorney in a small California town, as he navigates a complex case involving his client, Jo Corbin, who reveals a dark past and an internal struggle between guilt and responsibility following the killing of his former partner. The storyline sets the stage for a blend of humor, wit, and commentary on morality amidst the backdrop of frontier justice. The opening of the novella introduces Colonel Starbottle and establishes his boisterous personality as he ceaselessly engages in the legal profession after his political campaigns. His encounter with Jo Corbin, a discontented and guilt-ridden man, reveals the gravity of Corbin's situation—the guilt from a fatal altercation with his partner. As the Colonel listens to Corbin’s tale of remorse and intention to provide financial support to his victim's family, he becomes embroiled in a moral dilemma that impacts both men. The Colonel’s witty demeanor contrasts with the serious undertone of their conversation, setting up a dynamic exploration of themes like guilt and atonement while hinting at the deeper emotional entanglements that both characters undergo as the story progresses. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Reading ease score: 68.7 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
en
Western stories
PS
Text
Category: Novels
Category: American Literature
386910
2025-07-02T04:16:02.029110
text/html
399193
2021-01-27T12:42:17
text/html
206202
2025-07-02T04:16:07.886049
application/epub+zip
210219
2025-07-02T04:16:03.820144
application/epub+zip
210219
2025-07-02T04:16:02.685058
application/epub+zip
391406
2025-07-02T04:16:11.172071
application/x-mobipocket-ebook
366771
2025-07-02T04:16:07.208048
application/x-mobipocket-ebook
316949
2022-09-02T06:00:55.749747
application/x-mobipocket-ebook
335247
2025-07-02T04:16:01.457065
text/plain; charset=us-ascii
335229
2018-03-05T09:14:24
text/plain; charset=us-ascii
331008
2006-05-27T12:17:44
text/plain; charset=us-ascii
20761
2025-07-02T04:16:11.301049
application/rdf+xml
13446
2025-07-02T04:16:03.209053
image/jpeg
3860
2025-07-02T04:16:02.961070
image/jpeg
131600
2018-03-19T10:07:28
application/octet-stream
application/zip
138012
2021-01-27T12:42:17
application/octet-stream
application/zip
131041
2006-05-27T12:17:56
application/octet-stream
application/zip
199489
2025-07-02T04:16:02.058077
application/octet-stream
application/zip
Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at
https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog
en.wikipedia