45 pages • 1 hour read
Charles Brockden BrownEdgar Huntly: Or, Memoirs of a Sleepwalker
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1799A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Edgar Huntly: Or, Memoirs of a Sleepwalker by Charles Brockden Brown is an epistolary novel set in rural Pennsylvania in 1787, where Edgar Huntly writes letters to his fiancée, Mary Waldegrave. After discovering Clithero Edny sleepwalking and suspecting him of Mary's brother's murder, Edgar investigates him, leading to Clithero's confession of his troubled past and emigration from Ireland. Edgar's sleepwalking and confrontations with Native Americans further complicate the plot as he grapples with his own perceptions and the mysteries surrounding his family and Clithero's intentions.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Reviews for Edgar Huntly by Charles Brockden Brown describe it as a gripping Gothic tale merging psychological depth with early American settings. Critics praise its innovative narrative style and exploration of subconscious fears. However, some readers find the plot convoluted and the prose dense. Overall, it's valued for its literary significance despite occasional readability issues.
Who Should Read Edgar Huntly?
Edgar Huntly by Charles Brockden Brown will captivate readers who appreciate early American Gothic fiction, intricate narratives, and psychological depth. Fans of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Arthur Mervyn's Arthur Mervyn, who enjoy exploring themes of identity, sleepwalking, and frontier life, will find it especially engaging.
320
Novel • Fiction
Pennsylvania • 1780s
1799
Adult
16-18 years
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