The Laestrygonians

Name: The Laestrygonians
Author: Aleksandr Kuprin

This work is a novella that tells the story of a group of sailors who are shipwrecked on an island inhabited by cannibals. The narrative explores themes of survival, savagery, and the clash between civilization and barbarism.

By Aleksandr Kuprin · First published 1908 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Adventure, Psychological Fiction · 13 chapters · 17,300 words

First lines

At the end of October, or the beginning of November, the city of Balaklava, that most original corner of the variegated Russian Empire, begins to live a life all its own. The days are still warm and pleasant, as they sometimes are in the fall, but at night it grows cold and the ground resounds under your step. The last summer visitors have gone to Sebastopol with their bundles, suitcases, trunks, sickly children, and decadente young ladies. As mementos of the recent guests, there still remain grape-skins which the invalid summer visitors had scattered in abundant quantities on every pier and in every narrow street, all for the purpose of aiding their precious health, and piles of paper, refuse, cigarette stumps, scraps of letters and newspapers, which always remain behind when the summer visitors go away.

What this Textopian page supports

The Laestrygonians is listed on Textopian as a novella by Aleksandr Kuprin, dated 1908 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novella
Author: Aleksandr Kuprin
Date: 1908 CE
Language: English
Genres: Literary Fiction, Adventure, Psychological Fiction, Historical Fiction, Drama
Length: 17,300 words
Structure: 13 chapters, 241 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The Laestrygonians by Aleksandr Kuprin
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering The Laestrygonians?
How does this novella by Aleksandr Kuprin fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Literary Fiction — The work explores complex themes and character development, focusing on the human experience.
Adventure — The plot involves a journey and encounters with various challenges, typical of adventure narratives.
Psychological Fiction — The narrative delves into the inner thoughts and emotions of characters, emphasizing psychological depth.
Historical Fiction — The setting and context reflect historical elements, providing a backdrop that influences the narrative.