The Leatherwood God by William Dean Howells
"The Leatherwood God" by William Dean Howells is a novel written in the late 19th century. The narrative unfolds in the early 1800s in a rural settlement where the arrival of a mysterious figure known as the Leatherwood God sparks a fervent religious revival. The story delves into the lives of the local settlers, notably focusing on characters like Matthew Braile and the enigmatic Dylks, who emerges as a charismatic preacher and
captivates the community with his claims of divine authority. At the start of the novel, the peaceful setting of Leatherwood Creek is introduced, along with its inhabitants and their simple lives centered around agriculture and spirituality. The story reveals a village shaped by religious fervor yet marked by varying beliefs and inner conflicts. The opening chapters depict a series of conversations between the local characters, such as the skeptical Matthew Braile and the enthusiastic Abel Reverdy, as they discuss the recent camp meeting where Dylks made a striking impression. Dylks's sudden appearance, along with his strange behaviors—including a loud snort that captivates the attendees—sets the stage for a brewing storm of devotion and doubt within the community. The solid foundation of their beliefs begins to tremble as his influence spreads, hinting at the internal and external conflicts that will arise as the narrative progresses. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Download for free
For your e-reader or reading app — Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, Calibre etc.
Kindle → Use Send-to-Kindle
- Download the EPUB3 file above
- Upload it on the Amazon site your Kindle is registered with: amazon.com/sendtokindle for the US, amazon.co.uk/sendtokindle for the UK etc.
- It appears on your Kindle and in the Kindle app
Kobo, Nook etc. → Transfer via USB
- Download the EPUB3 file on your computer
- Connect your e-reader by USB and tap "Connect" on its screen
- Drag the file onto the e-reader drive
Phone, Tablet or Computer → Online or Reading App
Easiest: read online in your browser. Nothing to install.
Or use a reading app:
- Find and install one you like, for example Apple Books, ReadEra or Thorium Reader
- Download the EPUB3 file above
- Open it in the app
More help: iPhone / iPad · Android · Computer
Other formats & older devices
There may be more files related to this item.
About this eBook
| Author | Howells, William Dean, 1837-1920 |
|---|---|
| Title | The Leatherwood God |
| Credits |
Produced by Nathan Harris, Eric Eldred, Charles Franks, David Widger and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 88.0 (6th grade). Easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Impostors and imposture -- Fiction |
| Subject | Frontier and pioneer life -- Ohio -- Fiction |
| Subject | Dylks, Joseph C. -- Fiction |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 7311 |
| ISBN (HTML) | 979-8-238-07311-8 |
| Release Date | Jan 1, 2005 |
| Last Update | Jan 27, 2021 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 506 downloads in the last 30 days. |
Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free!