The Pot of Basil by Bernard Capes
The Pot of Basil is a poem written by Bernard Capes in 1896. It tells the story of a young man who, after being rejected by his love, finds solace in a pot of basil that he has been given as a gift. The poem explores themes of love, loss, and the passing of time, and is known for its vivid imagery and emotional depth.
By Bernard Capes · First published 1896 · Genre: Horror, Mystery, Suspense · 29 chapters · 88,127 words
First lines
It was a very hot day in Colorno, the petty Versailles of the Dukes of Parma. The little channels irrigating the plains all about, and drawn every one from the near depleted basin of the small river which a few miles northward ran into the Po, were spun as thin as silver wire. The effect from a distance was as of a network of snail-tracks, stiffened in a dry morning, and all making for the oasis of the village, where was to be found at least the shade of trees and gardens. Elsewhere there was little. The domains of Don Philip, wrote the Minister Maulevrier, _à propos_ some hounds "de toute beauté" presented to the duke by his devoted father-in-law, Louis XV., were no huntsman's paradise, since they possessed "ni bois, ni fauve. " The country was like a green tray, rimmed by the low blue ramparts of the Alps and Apennines far distant. In the midst stood Colorno, a dainty confection, as it were, of puff paste and sugar. It lay basking in the sunlight, very white, very sleepy, very empty.
What this Textopian page supports
The Pot of Basil is listed on Textopian as a novel by Bernard Capes, dated 1896 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Bernard Capes
- Date: 1896 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Mystery, Suspense, Gothic
- Length: 88,127 words
- Structure: 29 chapters, 2,045 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Pot of Basil by Bernard Capes
- 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
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Genres
- Horror — Bernard Capes is a known English horror writer and 'The Pot of Basil' features the typical elements of suspense and terror found in horror fiction.
- Mystery — The narrative of 'The Pot of Basil' evokes mystery and intrigue, encouraging readers to piece together clues.
- Suspense — The book keeps the readers on edge about several elements of the plot, reflecting a suspense genre.
- Gothic — The settings, characters, and plot contain elements of dread and the macabre, representative of the Gothic genre.
Tags
tragic love · classical mythology · greek myths · romantic poetry · basil plant · symbolism · nature imagery · death · grief · loss · longing · yearning
Contents
- THE NIXIE
- AQUAVIVA
- THE COMPACT
- LOVE'S AMBASSADOR
- IL TROVATORE
- NON DOLCE FAR NIENTE
- LOVE-IN-A-MIST
- CORRESPONDENCE
- THE DECOY
- THE ORANGE GROVE
- SWEET BASIL
- PAOLO AND FRANCESCA
- TOKENS
- CONFESSION
- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE
- FAST BIND, FAST FIND
- THE LOST PRESENCE
- AN INTERVIEW
- "MARIANA"
- THE FACE IN THE CROWD
- ACROSS THE BRIDGE
- ANTICIPATION
- "IN THE SILENT WOODY PLACES"
- RAPTURE
- DELIRIUM
- WITHIN THE PRESBYTERY
- THE CRY IN THE GARDEN
- A POSTHUMOUS EXISTENCE
- AT REST