The Kavanagh by Bliss Carman (1891)
The Kavanagh is a novel by Bliss Carman, first published in 1895. It tells the story of a young Irishman, Michael Kavanagh, who leaves his home in Ireland to seek his fortune in America. He arrives in New York City and quickly finds work as a laborer. Despite his hard work, Michael is unable to make enough money to support himself and his family back in Ireland. He eventually meets a wealthy American woman, Mrs. Van Wyck, who takes him under her wing and helps him to make a better life for himself. Michael eventually becomes a successful businessman and marries Mrs. Van Wyck's daughter, Mary. The couple have a son, and Michael is able to send money back to his family in Ireland. However, tragedy strikes when Mary dies in childbirth, leaving Michael to raise their son alone. Despite his grief, Michael is determined to make a better life for his son and continues to work hard to provide for him. The Kavanagh is a story of love, loss, and redemption. It is a timeless tale of the immigrant experience and the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity.
By Bliss Carman · First published 1891 · Genre: Romance, Historical Fiction, Drama · 315 words
First lines
A stone jug and a pewter mug, And a table set for three! A jug and a mug at every place, And a biscuit or two with Brie! Three stone jugs of Cruiskeen Lawn, And a cheese like crusted foam! The Kavanagh receives to-night! McMurrough is at home!
We three and the barley-bree! And a health to the one away, Who drifts down careless Italy, God's wanderer and estray! For friends are more than Arno's store Of garnered charm, and he Were blither with us here the night Than Titian bids him be.
What this Textopian page supports
The Kavanagh is listed on Textopian as a short story by Bliss Carman, dated 1891 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Bliss Carman
- Date: 1891 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Drama, Literary Fiction
- Length: 315 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Kavanagh by Bliss Carman
- 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 The Kavanagh?
- How does this short story by Bliss Carman fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Romance first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Romance — The book follows the story of a young man's journey to find love and acceptance.
- Historical Fiction — The book is set in the late 19th century and follows the story of a young man's journey to find love and acceptance in a time of great social change.
- Drama — The book follows the story of a young man's journey to find love and acceptance in a time of great social change, and the story is full of dramatic moments.
- Literary Fiction — The book is written in a lyrical style and explores themes of love, acceptance, and social change.
Tags
poetry · Canadian literature · nature · romanticism · identity · family · landscape · nostalgia · spirituality · self-discovery · cultural heritage · rural life