The End of a Show by Barry Pain

Name: The End of a Show
Author: Barry Pain

Barry Pain's The End of a Show is a collection of short stories that explore the lives of people in the entertainment industry. The stories are set in a variety of locations, from the backstage of a theater to the dressing rooms of a television studio. The characters in the stories are all connected to the entertainment industry in some way, whether they are actors, directors, producers, or writers. The stories explore the relationships between the characters, as well as the struggles they face in their professional and personal lives. Pain's writing is vivid and evocative, and he captures the emotions of his characters with great insight. The stories are often humorous, but they also touch on deeper themes such as ambition, loneliness, and the search for meaning in life. The End of a Show is a compelling collection of stories that will appeal to readers who are interested in the entertainment industry, as well as those who enjoy stories about the human condition.

By Barry Pain · First published 1920 · Genre: Drama, Satire, Romance · 1,318 words

First lines

It was a little village in the extreme north of Yorkshire, three miles from a railway-station on a small branch line. It was not a progressive village; it just kept still and respected itself. The hills lay all round it, and seemed to shut it out from the rest of the world. Yet folks were born, and lived, and died, much as in the more important centres; and there were intervals which required to be filled with amusement. Entertainments were given by amateurs from time to time in the schoolroom; sometimes hand-bell ringers or a conjurer would visit the place, but their reception was not always encouraging. "Conjurers is nowt, an ringers is nowt," said the sad native judiciously; "ar dornt regard 'em." But the native brightened up when in the summer months a few caravans found their way to a piece of waste land adjoining the churchyard. They formed the village fair, and for two days they were a popular resort. But it was understood that the fair had not the glories of old days; it had dwindled. Most things in connection with this village dwindled.

What this Textopian page supports

The End of a Show is listed on Textopian as a short story by Barry Pain, dated 1920 CE.

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

Work type: Short story
Author: Barry Pain
Date: 1920 CE
Language: English
Genres: Drama, Satire, Romance, Mystery
Length: 1,318 words
Structure: 1 section, 58 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Work identity for The End of a Show by Barry Pain
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 The End of a Show?
How does this short story by Barry Pain fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Drama first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Drama — The title of the book suggests that it is a story about the end of a show, which implies a dramatic plot with themes of closure and finality.
Satire — Barry Pain is known for his satirical writing, so this book is likely to contain elements of satire.
Romance — The title of the book implies that there may be a romantic element to the story, as the end of a show could signify the end of a relationship.
Mystery — The title of the book implies that there may be a mystery element to the story, as the end of a show could signify the uncovering of a secret.