Keeping His Promise
"KEEPING HIS PROMISE" is a novella by Algernon Blackwood, first published in 1908. The story follows the journey of a man named John Marston, who has been summoned to a remote location by a mysterious stranger. Marston soon discovers that he has been brought there to keep a promise made by his recently deceased friend, who had promised to release a spirit from a ancient tree. As Marston navigates the strange and eerie atmosphere of the forest, he begins to question his own sanity and the true nature of the promise he has been tasked with keeping. The novella explores themes of grief, guilt, and the supernatural, as Marston grapples with the weight of his friend's legacy and the mysterious forces that surround him.
By Algernon Blackwood · First published 1908 · Genre: Horror, Supernatural, Psychological Thriller · 7,895 words
First lines
It was eleven o'clock at night, and young Marriott was locked into his room, cramming as hard as he could cram. He was a "Fourth Year Man" at
Edinburgh University and he had been ploughed for this particular examination so often that his parents had positively declared they could no longer supply the funds to keep him there.
What this Textopian page supports
Keeping His Promise is listed on Textopian as a short story by Algernon Blackwood, dated 1908 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Algernon Blackwood
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Supernatural, Psychological Thriller, Mystery, Drama
- Length: 7,895 words
- Structure: 1 section, 120 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Keeping His Promise by Algernon Blackwood
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Keeping His Promise?
- How does this short story by Algernon Blackwood fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Horror first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Horror — The author, Algernon Blackwood, is popularly known for his works in the horror genre, often involving supernatural elements. This particular book, while being about a promise, presents the fulfillment of the promise in a suspenseful and eerie manner integral to horror.
- Supernatural — Keeping His Promise includes supernatural elements that form the core of the plot, which is a defining feature of the supernatural genre.
- Psychological Thriller — This novel delves into the psychological aspect of the protagonist leading to tension and suspense, hence is also related to the genre of psychological thriller.
- Mystery — The book contains elements of mystery as the protagonist discovers unexpected truths while fulfilling his promise.
Tags
ghost story · supernatural · mystery · thriller · horror · fantasy · magic · spirituality · psychological · suspense · intrigue · romance