Drinking the Sea dry

Name: Drinking the Sea dry
Author: Basil Hall Chamberlain

The novel follows a young man named Stephen who becomes obsessed with the idea of drinking the sea dry after witnessing a group of children playing in the ocean. As he becomes more and more fixated on this goal, his relationships with those around him begin to deteriorate. The book explores themes of isolation, loneliness, and the consequences of an unhealthy obsession.

By Basil Hall Chamberlain · First published 1932 · Genre: Fiction, Adventure, Fantasy · 308 words

First lines

There was the Chief of the Mouth of the River and the Chief of the Upper Current of the River. The former was very vainglorious, and therefore wished to put the latter to shame, or to kill him by engaging him in the attempt to perform something impossible. So he sent for him, and said: "The sea may be a useful thing, in so far as it is the original home of the fish which come up the river. But it is very destructive in stormy weather, when it beats wildly upon the beach. Do you now drink it dry, so that there may be rivers and dry land only. If you cannot do so, then forfeit all your possessions." The other (greatly to the vainglorious man's surprise) said: "I accept the challenge."

What this Textopian page supports

Drinking the Sea dry is listed on Textopian as a short story by Basil Hall Chamberlain, dated 1932 CE.

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

Work type: Short story
Author: Basil Hall Chamberlain
Date: 1932 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fiction, Adventure, Fantasy, Allegorical, Magical Realism
Length: 308 words
Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Drinking the Sea dry by Basil Hall Chamberlain
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 Drinking the Sea dry?
How does this short story by Basil Hall Chamberlain fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Fiction first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Fiction — Based on the book title and author's known works, this book is likely to be a fictional story with some fantastical elements.
Adventure — The phrase 'Drinking the Sea dry' suggests a journey or an ambitious undertaking, which are common elements of the Adventure genre.
Fantasy — The act of 'Drinking the Sea dry' is a highly implausible event that suggests the use of magic or other fantastical elements, common to the Fantasy genre.
Allegorical — The title could suggest an allegorical tale, where the act of 'Drinking the Sea dry' represents some deeper philosophical or moral issue.