The Man Who Kept His Money in a Box
The Man Who Kept His Money in a Box by Anthony Trollope is a novella that explores the themes of obsession, greed, and the consequences of one's actions. The story follows a man named John Caldwell, who becomes fixated on keeping his money in a box, believing it will bring him happiness and security. However, as the story progresses, John's obsession with the box leads to a series of unfortunate events, ultimately causing him to lose everything he holds dear. Through this novella, Trollope examines the dangers of fixating on one thing to the exclusion of all else, and how it can lead to chaos and destruction. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of balance and perspective in life.
By Anthony Trollope · First published 1867 · Genre: Classic Literature, Short Story, Drama · 13,983 words
First lines
I first saw the man who kept his money in a box in the midst of the ravine of the Via Mala. I interchanged a few words with him or with his wife at the hospice, at the top of the Splugen; and I became acquainted with him in the courtyard of Conradi's hotel at Chiavenna. It was, however, afterwards at Bellaggio, on the lake of Como, that that acquaintance ripened into intimacy. A good many years have rolled by since then, and I believe this little episode in his life may be told without pain to the feelings of anyone.
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The Man Who Kept His Money in a Box is listed on Textopian as a novella by Anthony Trollope, dated 1867 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: Anthony Trollope
- Date: 1867 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Classic Literature, Short Story, Drama, Adventure
- Length: 13,983 words
- Structure: 1 section, 233 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- Cousin Henry by Anthony Trollope
- Pomps And Vanities by Sabine Baring Gould
- Abram The Usurer by Sabine Baring Gould
- The Private Account by Rudyard Kipling
- La Mere Bauche by Anthony Trollope
- The Challoners by E. F. Benson
Genres
- Classic Literature — The novel was written by Anthony Trollope, a renowned English novelist during the Victoria era.
- Short Story — The story's length and content fall within the range to consider it as a short story.
- Drama — The plot of the story involves human relationships and personal dilemmas which are common elements in drama literature.
- Adventure — The storyline involves elements of travel and exploration, thus it could be classified in the adventure genre.
Tags
money · wealth · finance · society · class · morality · greed · character study · Victorian literature · human nature · relationships · trust