The Gates Ajar or Our Loved Ones in Heaven is a novel written by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps. It was first published in 1868 and quickly became a bestseller. The book tells the story of a young woman named Mary Cabot who is grieving the loss of her brother, Royal. Mary is struggling to come to terms with the idea that her brother is gone forever, and she is desperate for answers about what happens to people after they die.One day, Mary meets a man named David, who is a spiritualist and claims to be able to communicate with the dead. David tells Mary that her brother is not gone forever, but rather he is waiting for her in heaven. This idea brings Mary great comfort, and she begins to explore the concept of the afterlife.Throughout the book, Mary learns about the different beliefs and theories surrounding death and the afterlife. She meets other people who have lost loved ones and who are also searching for answers. Together, they explore the idea that death is not an end, but rather a new beginning.The Gates Ajar is a thought-provoking and emotional book that explores the themes of grief, loss, and the afterlife. It challenges readers to consider their own beliefs about death and what happens to us after we die. The book is a classic of Victorian literature and is still widely read and admired today.1868. Phelps was the author of fifty-seven volumes of fiction, poetry and essays. A Singular Life is one of her best known works. The Gates Ajar is one of her major works. It begins: One week; only one week today, this twenty-first of February. I have been sitting here in the dark and thinking about it, till it seems so horribly long and so horribly short; it has been such a week to live through, and it is such a small part of the weeks that must be lived through, that I could think no longer, but lighted my lamp, and opened my desk to find something to do. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.