Cover of The Fighting Chance

The Fighting Chance

  • Free to read
  • 9 hours to read
  • 15 chapters
  • Reading level: 7th grade

"The Fighting Chance" by Robert W. Chambers is a novel likely written in the late 19th century. The story introduces the main character, Siward, a young man appearing somewhat absent-minded and affable, as he arrives at a summer home named Shotover House. The narrative unfolds around his interactions with the spirited Sylvia Landis and their budding acquaintance, layered with themes of social standing, hereditary reputation, and personal choices amidst societal expectations. At the start of the book, Siward arrives by train at Shotover, seemingly uncertain of his destination and preoccupied with the vibrant chaos of the station. He is greeted by a groom who leads him to a phaeton driven by Sylvia Landis, marking the beginning of their charged relationship. As they drive, their conversation reveals personalities that both attract and challenge each other: Siward's easy-going nature contrasts with Sylvia's underlying conflict regarding her engagement to Howard Quarrier, a man of significant social standing. The two engage in a lighthearted but revealing discourse about love, responsibility, and the pressures of societal norms, setting the stage for deeper emotional exploration and potential conflict in the story.

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  • New York (N.Y.) · Social life and customs

Read the opening

Chapter I: Acquaintance

The speed of the train slackened; a broad tidal river flashed into sight below the trestle, spreading away on either hand through yellowing level meadows. And now, above the roaring undertone of the cars, from far ahead floated back the treble bell-notes of the locomotive; there came a gritting vibration of brakes; slowly, more slowly the cars glided to a creaking standstill beside a sun-scorched platform gay with the bright flutter of sunshades and summer gowns.

“Shotover! Shotover!” rang the far cry along the cars; and an absent-minded young man in the Pullman pocketed the uncut magazine he had been dreaming over and, picking up gun case and valise, followed a line of fellow-passengers to the open air, where one by one they were engulfed and lost to view amid the gay confusion on the platform.

The absent-minded young man, however, did not seem to know exactly where he was bound for. He stood hesitating, leisurely inspecting the flashing ranks of vehicles—depot wagons, omnibusses, and motor cars already eddying around a dusty gravel drive centred by the conventional railroad flower bed and fountain.

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Contents

  1. Chapter I: Acquaintance
  2. Chapter II Imprudence
  3. Chapter III Shotover
  4. Chapter IV the Season Opens
  5. Chapter V a Winning Loser
  6. Chapter VI Modus Vivendi
  7. Chapter VII Persuasion
  8. Chapter VIII Confidences
  9. Chapter IX Confessions
  10. Chapter X the Seamy Side
  11. Chapter XI the Call of the Rain
  12. Chapter XII the Asking Price
  13. Chapter XIII the Selling Price
  14. Chapter XIV the Bargain
  15. Chapter XV the Enemy Listens

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About this edition

This free edition of The Fighting Chance by Robert W. Chambers comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #7492, released 2005-02-01. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Novels.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

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