Across the Stream by E.F. Benson

Name: Across the Stream
Author: E.F. Benson

In "Across the Stream" by E.F. Benson, the protagonist, a man named Edward, is on a boat trip with his friend and fellow writer, Robert. As they journey downstream, Edward becomes increasingly agitated and paranoid, convinced that Robert is plotting against him. The story builds towards a climactic confrontation between the two men, which ends in tragedy. Throughout the narrative, Benson employs a sense of foreboding and unease, creating a tense and unsettling atmosphere that permeates the entire tale.

By E.F. Benson · First published 1903 · Genre: Horror, Short Stories, Mystery · 13 chapters · 116,414 words

First lines

Certain scenes, certain pictures of his very early years of childhood, stood out for Archie like clear sunlit peaks above the dim clouds that shrouded the time when the power of memory was only beginning to germinate. He had no doubt (and was probably right about it) as to which the earliest of those was: it was the face of his nurse Blessington, leaning over his crib. She held a candle in her hand which a little dazzled him, but the sight of her face, tender and anxious, and divinely reassuring, was the point of that memory. He had been asleep, and had awoke with a start, and, finding himself alone in the midst of the immense desolation of the dark that pressed on him like an invader from all sides, he had lifted up his voice and yelled. Then, as by a conjuring-trick, Blessington had appeared with her comforting presence that quite robbed the dark of its terrors.

What this Textopian page supports

Across the Stream is listed on Textopian as a novel by E.F. Benson, dated 1903 CE.

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

Work type: Novel
Author: E.F. Benson
Date: 1903 CE
Language: English
Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Mystery, Supernatural Fiction, Fantasy
Length: 116,414 words
Structure: 13 chapters, 1,870 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Across the Stream by E.F. Benson
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 Across the Stream?
How does this novel by E.F. Benson fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Horror first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Horror — The book is rich in elements of the supernatural, dealing with ghostly encounters and communication with the afterlife.
Short Stories — This book is a compilation of short stories, each with their own plot and characters.
Mystery — Many of the stories in the book deal with unexplained phenomena and contain elements of suspense.
Supernatural Fiction — Throughout the book, main themes revolve around ghosts, spirits and other supernatural happenings.