The Red King by Charles Kingsley
The Red King is a novel written by Charles Kingsley that was first published in 1859. It tells the story of a young man named John who falls in love with a beautiful woman named Mary, but she rejects him because he is poor and uneducated. John becomes bitter and decides to seek revenge on Mary's family by kidnapping her father and demanding a ransom for his release. However, the plan goes awry when John discovers that Mary has been secretly married to another man named Richard. In the end, John is killed in a duel with Richard over Mary's love.
By Charles Kingsley · First published 1870 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Political Drama · 859 words
First lines
The King was drinking in Malwood Hall, There came in a monk before them all: He thrust by squire, he thrust by knight, Stood over against the dais aright; And, 'The word of the Lord, thou cruel Red King, The word of the Lord to thee I bring.
A grimly sweven I dreamt yestreen; I saw thee lie under the hollins green, And through thine heart an arrow keen; And out of thy body a smoke did rise, Which smirched the sunshine out of the skies: So if thou God's anointed be I rede thee unto thy soul thou see.
What this Textopian page supports
The Red King is listed on Textopian as a short story by Charles Kingsley, dated 1870 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Charles Kingsley
- Date: 1870 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Political Drama
- Length: 859 words
- Structure: 1 section, 17 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Red King by Charles Kingsley
- 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 Red King?
- How does this short story by Charles Kingsley fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Historical Fiction — The book weaves a tale grounded in a historical context, reimagining real events and figures.
- Adventure — The protagonist embarks on a dangerous journey, facing numerous challenges and risks.
- Political Drama — The themes of power, rebellion, and political intrigue are prominent throughout the book.
Tags
fantasy · adventure · children's literature · mythology · imagination · friendship · dreams · moral lessons · victory · courage · magic · narrative