A Mummer's Tale by Anatole France

Name: A Mummer's Tale
Author: Anatole France

A Murderer's Tale by Anatole France is a novella that explores the themes of morality, justice, and the nature of truth. The story follows a man named Jacques who is accused of murdering his friend and business partner, and the legal proceedings that ensue. Through the use of irony and satire, France examines the flaws in the French judicial system and challenges the notion of objective truth. The novella is known for its complex characters, intricate plotting, and thought-provoking themes, making it a rich and rewarding read for literature enthusiasts.

By Anatole France · First published 1891 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Art Fiction · 20 chapters · 59,777 words

First lines

The scene was an actress's dressing-room at the Odeon.

Felicie Nanteuil, her hair powdered, with blue on her eyelids, rouge on her cheeks and ears, and white on her neck and shoulders, was holding out her foot to Madame Michon, the dresser, who was fitting on a pair of little black slippers with red heels. Dr. Trublet, the physician attached to the theatre, and a friend of the actress's, was resting his bald cranium on a cushion of the divan, his hands folded upon his stomach and his short legs crossed.

What this Textopian page supports

A Mummer's Tale is listed on Textopian as a novel by Anatole France, dated 1891 CE.

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

Work type: Novel
Author: Anatole France
Date: 1891 CE
Language: English
Genres: Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Art Fiction, Social Critique
Length: 59,777 words
Structure: 20 chapters, 1,415 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)

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Work identity for A Mummer's Tale by Anatole France
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 A Mummer's Tale?
How does this novel by Anatole France fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Literary Fiction — Anatole France's works heavily focus on societal issues and human nature. 'A Mummer's Tale' exemplifies this through its exploration of artistic life, making it predominantly a work of literary fiction.
Historical Fiction — The book depicts 19th century Paris and the life of the artistic community therein, thereby placing it within the historical fiction genre.
Art Fiction — 'A Mummer's Tale' details the life, struggles, aspirations and failures of the artistic community, specifically those involved in the theater, classifying it as art fiction.
Social Critique — France uses his work to examine societal norms and critique issues of his time, including the standing and journey of artists in society.