Proper Pride, Volume Ii
A distinguished cavalry officer returns from active service in India to find his domestic life as ruined as it is complicated. In the campaign he earns renown on the battlefield, displaying fierce bravery and inciting both admiration and enmity through daring charges and personal sacrifices. His conduct in war, marked by near-fatal injuries and innumerable narrow escapes, contrasts sharply with the cold detachment he later exhibits at home. Back in England at the family seat, a once-promising marriage has degenerated into a mutual estrangement. The officer, though celebrated as a war hero, now regards his long‐abandoned wife merely as a subordinate ward—a responsibility to be managed rather than a partner to be cherished. The lady of the estate, once celebrated for her charm, has gradually become socially isolated and scorned. Rumors circulate that she bears the stigma of a “divorcée,” although no legal divorce ever occurred; in truth, communication has broken down entirely. The couple’s separation is compounded by the demands of duty and honor: while he immerses himself in military life and the rigid codes of society, she is left to struggle with domestic isolation, the heavy burden of pride, and the complicated task of preserving her own reputation. Throughout a series of encounters in drawing-rooms, gardens, and on tennis courts, each character’s inner conflicts become evident. The officer’s bitter diatribes—periodically delivered with a mix of sarcastic humor and explosive anger—reveal a man torn between his cherished soldier’s honor and the resentment that grows each day from unreturned affection. Meanwhile, his wife, facing the derision of relatives and the gossip of society, vacillates between indignation and resigned sorrow as she attempts to reclaim some measure of dignity. Their interactions are punctuated by witty repartee from friends and relatives who, with ironic amusement, comment on their absurd situation. In the midst of social gatherings, private confrontations, and letters that betray long-accumulated grievances, the couple’s relationship is recast as a formal arrangement rather than a loving union. The officer’s insistence on treating his wife as an object of duty rather than of deep personal regard sparks painful revelations. She is forced repeatedly to execute the role of the dutiful dependent, even when her natural vivacity and earlier warmth had once given promise of intimacy. As their painful exchanges register over trivial domestic matters—a misplaced wedding ring, ambiguous promises of friendship turned to scorn, and the ironic observation that the man’s “guardian” attitude leaves little room for genuine husbandly love—the text exposes a corrosive interplay of pride, duty, and wounded self-esteem. The narrative juxtaposes high-stakes military valor with the low, often bitter theatrics of domestic life. In doing so it satirizes the rigid social conventions of the time as well as the hollowness of honor when divorced from authentic emotional connection. The initial section thus lays the groundwork for a broader exploration of how personal failings, entrenched pride, and societal expectations can transform even heroic lives into tragic farces, setting the stage for a further unraveling of the characters’ hopes, resentments, and the dissonance between public reputation and private misery.
By B. M. Croker · Genre: Satire, Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction · 11 chapters · 41,691 words
First lines
Our hero went to the Neilgherry Hills for the remainder of his two months' leave. It is quite beyond my pen to describe that lovely region, but in common with almost all who have ever been there I have an admiration amounting to a passion for the Blue Hills. I declare them to be the most salubrious, delightful, beautiful range in the whole world. If I were to attempt a detailed description of these most favoured hills, I should fall so far short of their perfections that I would only incur the wrath and contempt of their many devoted admirers, so I shall content myself by merely giving a description of Sir Reginald's journey up the Ghaut.
What this Textopian page supports
Proper Pride, Volume Ii is listed on Textopian as a novella by B. M. Croker, dated Date unknown.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: B. M. Croker
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Parody, Comedy
- Length: 41,691 words
- Structure: 11 chapters, 718 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Proper Pride, Volume Ii by B. M. Croker
- 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 Proper Pride, Volume Ii?
- How does this novella by B. M. Croker fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
Genres
- Satire — The work critiques social conventions and class structures through irony and wit, central characteristics of satirical literature.
- Gothic Fiction — The title and thematic undertones suggest dark, mysterious elements with a brooding atmosphere typical of Gothic narratives.
- Historical Fiction — Period-specific settings and social dynamics indicate a narrative grounded in historical context.
- Parody — The playful treatment of literary conventions and potential allusions to established works suggest elements of parody.
Tags
satire · humor · social commentary · irony · fiction · cultural critique · witty · erudite · parody · absurdity · fictional narrative · social dynamics
Contents
- "the Neilgherries."
- Afghanistan
- "my Captain does not Answer; his Lips are Pale and Still."
- Monkswood
- Waiting for an Answer
- The Return of the Native
- "Mary, it is my Husband!"
- Alice's Overtures are Declined
- "Sir Reginald's Eyes are Opened."
- Geoffrey Manœuvres
- "Meet me by Moonlight Alone."