I'm sooo ticked

I just wrote a very long post and, while trying to copy it (which you apparently can't do), I lost the whole damned thing.

Anyway, to make a long post short, I'm thinking of exploring how male authority figures who abuse their power over women have changed. I'm wondering of the representation of a religious figure was a popular representation in early American novels and will consider putting Fall River beside The Scarlett Letter.

I'll come back in later to write, more or less, what I spent the last fifteen mintues on before I lost it.

One thing I really dislike about this is that you can't edit comments and that there is no way (at least that I've found thus far) that allows one to insert links in comment replies. If anyone knows how to do this, please let me know.

Anyway, that's not the point of this point. In response to Dr. Logan's first comment, I'm posting these links of an "on-line" book and associated art I played a part in creating. I came up with the concept and, about six years ago, found a few other guys through my website to create The Gates of Hell.

Dicefreaks is an on-line site dedicated to role-playing games (D&D in particular) created by me and a good friend of mine, Tim Moore. For me, though, the site was (and remains) a vehicle for my writing and the continued creation of my mythopoeic environment. The Gates of Hell and a couple of subsequent concepts (which have, thus far, not be completed) were side projects embraced by the community. Alas, I've not worked much on any of this stuff for about a year now, but the site has survived despite my relative lack of presence. Feel free to peruse if you're so inclined. We have many talented (and some not so talented) folks there. My moniker is, creatively enough, "The Serge."

So, I got to thinking... What's Fall River really about?

Damsel in distress? Check.

Rotten cur? Check.

Murder in a sleepy town? Check.

Mystery and sleuthing? Check.

Lack of justice? Check.

Unusual discoveries regarding the damsel's background? Check.

In short, we have quite a bit going on here, but I'm still not sure what I'm dealing with. On the one hand, it seems to be a "crime novel;" however, on the other hand it's obvious that there is no attempt at objectivity on the part of the narrator. What's more, there's substantial emphasis on the matter of religion, particularly on the reaction of the Methodists when their pastor is taken by the authorities under suspicion of murder.

One of the most interesting occurences after the discover of the body is the initial reaction of Minister Avery, the eventual suspect's brother. Until he learns from the doctor that the deceased what involved with his brother, the first Avery claims her as part of the churce. Immediately after the revelation, he denounces her and her character. Although I think it's a bit hoaky to claim this, Miss Cornell suffers a second death and both at the hands of religious figures, figures supposedly of upright moral standing.

Religion... Hmmm....

Fall River

Here's the entire book. The Preface begins on page 5 on Google Books (but page 1 of the novel proper).