Last Year's Nest
The novel follows the story of a man named John who returns to his hometown after serving in World War I. He finds that his wife has died and his home has been taken over by a family of squirrels. John becomes obsessed with reclaiming his home and begins to see the world through the eyes of the squirrels, leading him to question his own sanity.
By Arthur Willis Colton · First published 1923 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Drama, Classic · 55 words
First lines
PART I. WEST-EASTERLY MORALITIES
There are no birds in last year's nest.
Where snows have been,
There is no place for love to rest
What this Textopian page supports
Last Year's Nest is listed on Textopian as a short story by Arthur Willis Colton, dated 1923 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Arthur Willis Colton
- Date: 1923 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Drama, Classic
- Length: 55 words
- Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Last Year's Nest by Arthur Willis Colton
- 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 Last Year's Nest?
- How does this short story by Arthur Willis Colton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Widowers Lullaby by Alan Sullivan
- Quicksands by B. M. Croker
- A Strange Invitation by Stanley J. Weyman
- The Forger by Edgar Wallace
- The Man And The Dog by Ambrose Bierce
- The Back Of Our Heads by Stephen Barr
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The novel contains thought-provoking commentary on societal issues and the human condition.
- Drama — The book depicts interaction of characters and their personal psychological development.
- Classic — As it was written by Arthur Willis Colton, a notable author of the early 20th century, the book is often categorized as a classic.
Tags
family drama · small town life · birdwatching · grief · loss · motherhood · fatherhood · marriage · infidelity · secrets · lies · deception