Daisy's Aunt by E.F. Benson (1920)

Name: Daisy's Aunt
Author: E.F. Benson

The protagonist of Daisy's Aunt, by E.F. Benson, is a young woman named Daisy who becomes embroiled in a series of strange and unsettling events after her aunt passes away. The novel explores themes of isolation, paranoia, and the blurring of reality and fantasy, as Daisy finds herself increasingly disconnected from the world around her. Throughout the book, Benson employs a distinctive and unsettling tone, using vivid imagery and psychological insight to create a sense of unease and tension. The novel is considered a classic of the horror genre and continues to be widely read and studied today.

By E.F. Benson · First published 1920 · Genre: Romance, Comedy, Novel of manners · 27 chapters · 70,979 words

First lines

Daisy Hanbury poked her parasol between the bars of the cage, with the amiable intention of scratching the tiger's back. The tiger could not be expected to know this all by himself, and so he savagely bit the end of it off, with diabolical snarlings. Daisy turned to her cousin with a glow of sympathetic pleasure.

"What a darling! " she said. "He didn't understand, you see, and was perfectly furious. And it cost pounds and pounds, and I've spent all my allowance, and so I can't buy another, and my complexion will go to the dogs. Let's go there, too; the dingoes are absolutely fascinating. We'll come back to see these angels fed."

What this Textopian page supports

Daisy's Aunt is listed on Textopian as a novel by E.F. Benson, 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: E.F. Benson
Date: 1920 CE
Language: English
Genres: Romance, Comedy, Novel of manners
Length: 70,979 words
Structure: 27 chapters, 1,238 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Daisy's Aunt 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 Daisy's Aunt?
How does this novel by E.F. Benson fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Romance first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Romance — The primary plot of 'Daisy's Aunt' involves romantic pursuits and relationships, as well as personal feelings and emotions.
Comedy — The book has comedictones and humor, with wit and satire playing a significant role in the narrative style and dialogue.
Novel of manners — The book, written in the late Edwardian era, takes a detailed look at the behaviors, conventions, and etiquette of a specific social class.