The Fourth Generation

"The Fourth Generation" by Sir Walter Besant is a story about how the past can shape the future. The book follows Leonard Campaigne, who learns about the strange life of his great-grandfather, a man who has shut himself off from the world. As Leonard digs into his family's history, he finds misfortune and secrets that have haunted them for years. He also has to deal with his own dreams while trying to understand what his family's past means for him. The story starts on a gloomy morning and then jumps into the question of the old man's life of isolation and the sadness linked to earlier times. When Leonard visits his great-grandfather, he starts to understand the heavy burden of his family's past, filled with sadness and secrets.