The Surprise of the Righteous
The Surprise of the Righteous by Charles Kingsley is a novel that explores the lives of two families in Victorian England. The book follows the story of the wealthy and aristocratic family, the Vavasours, who are faced with financial difficulties due to their son's gambling addiction. In contrast, the poor but honest family, the Baines, struggles to make ends meet despite their hard work. The novel is set in a small town called "Happy Valley" and explores themes of morality, social class, and the importance of honesty and integrity. The title refers to the surprise that both families experience when they learn about each other's lives and discover that they are more similar than they realize. The book is written in a realistic style and is characterized by its attention to detail and vivid descriptions of the characters and their surroundings. It also features a strong sense of humor and satire, which adds to the overall enjoyment of the novel.
By Charles Kingsley · Genre: Fiction, Religious, Historical · 3,468 words
First lines
Preached at Southsea for the Mission of the Good Shepherd. October 1871.
St Matt. xxv. 34-37. "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we Thee an hungred, and fed Thee? or thirsty, and gave Thee drink? "
What this Textopian page supports
The Surprise of the Righteous is listed on Textopian as a speech by Charles Kingsley, dated Date unknown.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Speech
- Author: Charles Kingsley
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Fiction, Religious, Historical, Philosophical
- Length: 3,468 words
- Structure: 1 section, 24 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Surprise of the Righteous by Charles Kingsley
- 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 Surprise of the Righteous?
- How does this speech by Charles Kingsley fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Similar titles
- That Holy Thing by George Macdonald
- Gods Inheritance by Charles Kingsley
- Grace by Charles Kingsley
- The Friend Of Sinners by Charles Kingsley
- Thy Heart by George Macdonald
- The Great Commandment by Charles Kingsley
Genres
- Fiction — Without specific information about the plot it's safe to assume that the book belongs to Fiction genre because Charles Kingsley is well-known as a fiction writer.
- Religious — The title 'THE SURPRISE OF THE RIGHTEOUS' suggests a significant theological or biblical theme.
- Historical — Kingsley often included historical elements in his books.
- Philosophical — The discussions regarding righteousness and morality often delve into philosophical territory.
Tags
righteousness · morality · faith · spirituality · redemption · Christianity · ethics · divine justice · human nature · salvation · virtue · suffering