FREEThe Waif Woman
by Stevenson, Robert Louis, 1850-1894
"The Waif Woman" by Robert Louis Stevenson is a short novel written in the early 20th century, specifically in the context of the author's later works during his life. This tale, influenced by Icelandic sagas, delves into themes of vanity, greed, and the supernatural, as it explores the dynamics of human relationships through complex female characters and their interactions within a pastoral setting. The story follows Aud, a shallow woman consumed by envy and desire, who becomes fixated on the fine possessions of Thorgunna, a mysterious and strong-willed waif woman who arrives on a ship. Upon inviting Thorgunna into her home, Aud seeks to acquire her treasures through manipulation and deceit. As the plot unfolds, Thorgunna dies under unsettling circumstances, leaving behind a dark legacy. Aud's greed culminates in tragic consequences as she reaps the curse of Thorgunna’s wrath, leading to her own demise. The narrative intricately weaves issues of identity, mortality, and the repercussions of avarice, culminating in a haunting and thought-provoking conclusion. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Automated conservative edition review 2026-10-20T07:04:57.796Z (historical-original-en-v2), Philippines scope. English historical author Stevenson, Robert Louis, died 1894; original-language author allowlist, matching sole EPUB/catalog creator, no credited contributors, no extra artwork, no flagged editorial/translation/copyright cues in isolated text. US public-domain source label and retained Gutenberg license; EPUB CRC passed. This is rule-based screening, not a worldwide rights opinion or a claim of manual review. Source: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19750; Philippine term reference https://www.ipophil.gov.ph/copyright/. EPUB SHA256 aacbf59a8209819006148dc8c7cc74563d96d19f93063290f4ed026596775287; RDF SHA256 6584ff09aba6a25e15efd9595ab5a8c010207112fe86381b30db719532070d23.
View source & edition information ↗