A Fragment of Life by Arthur Machen
The narrative revolves around a young man who returns to his ancestral home after a long absence. He becomes increasingly obsessed with uncovering the dark secrets of his family's past and the mysterious events that have occurred within their estate. As he delves deeper into the mysteries, he uncovers evidence of supernatural occurrences and a sinister presence lurking in the shadows.
By Arthur Machen · First published 1895 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Psychological Fiction · 4 chapters · 38,074 words
First lines
Edward Darnell awoke from a dream of an ancient wood, and of a clear well rising into grey film and vapour beneath a misty, glimmering heat; and as his eyes opened he saw the sunlight bright in the room, sparkling on the varnish of the new furniture. He turned and found his wife's place vacant, and with some confusion and wonder of the dream still lingering in his mind, he rose also, and began hurriedly to set about his dressing, for he had overslept a little, and the bus passed the corner at 9: 15. He was a tall, thin man, dark-haired and dark-eyed, and in spite of the routine of the City, the counting of coupons, and all the mechanical drudgery that had lasted for ten years, there still remained about him the curious hint of a wild grace, as if he had been born a creature of the antique wood, and had seen the fountain rising from the green moss and the grey rocks.
What this Textopian page supports
A Fragment of Life is listed on Textopian as a novel by Arthur Machen, dated 1895 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Arthur Machen
- Date: 1895 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Surrealism, Gothic Fiction
- Length: 38,074 words
- Structure: 4 chapters, 405 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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- Work identity for A Fragment of Life by Arthur Machen
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores complex themes of existence and human experience, focusing on character development and introspection.
- Philosophical Fiction — It delves into philosophical questions about life, perception, and reality, prompting readers to reflect on deeper meanings.
- Psychological Fiction — The narrative examines the inner thoughts and emotions of characters, highlighting their psychological states.
- Surrealism — The writing incorporates dream-like elements and unconventional narrative structures, blurring the lines between reality and imagination.
Tags
Supernatural Fiction · Gothic Horror · Psychological Thriller · Mystery · Philosophical Themes · Existentialism · Symbolism · Atmosphere of Dread · Sense of Uncertainty · Unreliable Narrator · Stream-of-Consciousness Narrative · Inner Turmoil