Despair's Last Journey

Name: Despair's Last Journey
Author: David Christie Murray

Despair's Last Journey by David Christie Murray is a novella that explores the themes of mortality, morbidity, and the human condition. The story follows the journey of a man who, after being diagnosed with a terminal illness, sets out to fulfill his final wishes before he dies. Along the way, he encounters various characters who challenge his beliefs and values, leading him to question the meaning of life and death. The novella is known for its dark humor and philosophical musings, as well as its exploration of the human psyche and the fragility of existence. Through the protagonist's journey, Murray raises questions about the nature of reality, the purpose of life, and the inevitability of death. Overall, Despair's Last Journey is a thought-provoking and introspective work that invites readers to contemplate their own mortality and the meaning of existence.

By David Christie Murray · First published 1893 · Genre: Mystery, Adventure, Drama · 32 chapters · 179,896 words

First lines

A solitary passenger alighted from the train, and many people looked curiously after him. The mulatto porter handed to the platform a well-battered portmanteau, which was plastered thickly over with luggage-labels and the advertising tickets of hotels in every quarter of the globe. A great canvas bag followed, ornamented in like fashion. Then from the baggage-van an invisible person tumbled, a canvas bale. The coffee-coloured mulatto held out a grayish-white palm for the quarter-dollar the passenger was ready to drop into it, and stepped back to the platform of the car. The engine bell tolled slowly, as if it sounded a knell, and the train wound away. The curve of the line carried it out of sight in less than a minute, but in the clear mountain air the quickened ringing of the bell, the pant of the engine, and the roll of the wheels were audible for a long time.

What this Textopian page supports

Despair's Last Journey is listed on Textopian as a novel by David Christie Murray, dated 1893 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: David Christie Murray
Date: 1893 CE
Language: English
Genres: Mystery, Adventure, Drama
Length: 179,896 words
Structure: 32 chapters, 3,155 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Mystery — The plot follows the protagonist's attempt to escape from crime, falsely accused, and prove his innocence, indicating a mystery genre
Adventure — The main character goes on a journey, indicating themes of adventure
Drama — The book explores human emotion, conflict, and sentimental themes which align with drama genre