The Heart Line: A Drama of San Francisco

"The Heart Line: A Drama of San Francisco" by Gelett Burgess is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story unfolds in a gritty and vibrant San Francisco, exploring themes of fortune-telling, mental instability, and the diverse tapestry of human lives. The opening portion introduces us to a young boy named Francis, living in a dilapidated tenement, alongside his mother, Madam Grant, who is a clairvoyant. Their lives are intertwined with the struggles, secrets, and desires of the characters who pass through their world. At the start of the novel, we are immersed in the bleak conditions of the Siskiyou House, where Francis resides with Madam Grant. The setting is filled with vivid descriptions of neglect and decay, sharply contrasted with the boy's innocence and fascination with the written word, particularly his reading of "Gulliver’s Travels." The narrative builds tension as Francis interacts with a suspicious visitor who attempts to enter their lives, revealing themes of trust and survival. Ultimately, Madam Grant's erratic behavior hints at deeper mysteries, setting the stage for the intertwining stories of fortune seekers and the complex characters of San Francisco. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Frank Gelett Burgess was an American artist, art critic, poet, author and humorist. An important figure in the San Francisco Bay Area literary renaissance of the 1890s, particularly through his iconoclastic little magazine, The Lark, and association with The Crowd literary group. He is best known as a writer of nonsense verse, such as "The Purple Cow," and for introducing French modern art to the United States in an essay titled "The Wild Men of Paris." He was the illustrator of the Goops murals, in Coppa's restaurant, in the Montgomery Block and author of the popular Goops books. Burgess coined the term "blurb."