The Man Who Lost His Wife

Name: The Man Who Lost His Wife
Author: Basil Hall Chamberlain

The story revolves around a man who has lost his wife and is struggling to cope with the loss. He becomes obsessed with finding her, convinced that she is still alive. His search takes him on a journey through various locations, where he encounters people who claim to have seen her. As he delves deeper into his investigation, he begins to uncover clues that suggest his wife may not be what she seems. The man's fixation on finding his wife leads him down a path of self-discovery and introspection, forcing him to confront the reality of his own emotions and motivations. The narrative explores themes of grief, obsession, and the complexities of human relationships.

By Basil Hall Chamberlain · First published 1907 · Genre: Mystery, Drama, Suspense · 581 words

First lines

A man had lost his wife, and was searching for her everywhere, over hill and dale, forest and sea-shore. At last he came to a wide plain, on which stood an oak-tree. Going up to it he found it to be not so much an oak-tree as a house, in which dwelt a kind-looking old man. Said the old man: "I am the god of the oak-tree. I know of your loss, and have seen your faithful search. Rest here awhile, and refresh yourself by eating and smoking. After that, if you hope to find your wife again, you must obey my orders, which are as follows: Take this golden horse, get on his back, fly up on him to the sky, and, when you get there, ride about the streets, constantly singing."

What this Textopian page supports

The Man Who Lost His Wife is listed on Textopian as a short story by Basil Hall Chamberlain, dated 1907 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: 1907 CE
Language: English
Genres: Mystery, Drama, Suspense, Psychological, Crime
Length: 581 words
Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The Man Who Lost His Wife by Basil Hall Chamberlain
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 Man Who Lost His Wife?
How does this short story by Basil Hall Chamberlain fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Mystery — The title of the book hints at a narrative focused on the mysterious disappearance of the protagonist's wife, which aligns it with the Mystery genre.
Drama — The central event of the wife's loss introduces potential dramatic elements such as grief, search, and emotional ups and downs.
Suspense — The ambiguity of the situation and the unknown whereabouts of the missing wife can produce a suspenseful atmosphere.
Psychological — The story could involve the internal psychological struggle of the man who lost his wife, aligning the book with the Psychological genre.