Pastoral Affair
The narrative unfolds on a desolate island where Colonel Glinka arrives via seaplane, seeking an old acquaintance, Dr. Stefanik, a disgraced geneticist. Glinka's mission is to retrieve Stefanik, who has been experimenting with genetic manipulation, potentially creating a super-race. Upon landing, Glinka encounters local inhabitants, including a young man named Abdul Hakkim ben Salazar, who reluctantly guides him to Stefanik's villa. Inside the villa's conservatory, Glinka confronts Stefanik, who is engaged in botanical pursuits rather than human experimentation. Tension escalates as Glinka reveals his intent to bring Stefanik back to their homeland, threatening him with a concealed weapon. Stefanik, however, refuses to comply, asserting his ethical stance against human experimentation. In a chaotic turn, Glinka's attempts to capture Stefanik lead to a series of misadventures, culminating in a frantic chase through the island's rugged terrain. The narrative explores themes of power, ethics in science, and the complexities of human nature, as Glinka grapples with the implications of Stefanik's work and the peculiar behaviors of the island's inhabitants. Ultimately, the story reflects on the nature of curiosity and the drive for survival, leaving Glinka to confront the consequences of his actions amidst the island's enigmatic allure.
By Charles A. Stearns · First published 1920 · Genre: Romance, Drama, Historical Fiction · 4,851 words
First lines
[Sidenote: No wonder Stefanik meant to fight to the last -- he wasn't going to turn his kids over to an old goat like Glinka! ]
The seaplane cast its silhouette from aloft upon the blue Arabian Sea, left its white wake across the shallows, and taxied alongside the ancient stone jetty, clawing into the sandy bottom with its small fore and after anchors.
What this Textopian page supports
Pastoral Affair is listed on Textopian as a novel by Charles A. Stearns, dated 1920 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Charles A. Stearns
- Date: 1920 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romance, Drama, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction
- Length: 4,851 words
- Structure: 1 section, 141 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Pastoral Affair by Charles A. Stearns
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Pastoral Affair?
- How does this novel by Charles A. Stearns fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Romance first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Romance — The title suggests a personal and intimate relationship, which is a common theme in romance novels.
- Drama — The term 'affair' in the title implies conflict and emotional upheaval, typical in drama.
- Historical Fiction — The word 'pastoral' refers to rural life, which is often explored in historical fiction.
- Literary Fiction — Without specific details about the book, literary fiction could be a possibility as it encompasses a wide range of themes and styles.
Tags
romance · drama · fiction · relationships · conflict · love · betrayal · small town · pastoral · emotional · character development · family