The Philistine: A Story
The Philistine is a novel by E.M. Delafield, first published in 1929. It tells the story of a young woman, Mary, who is determined to make something of her life despite her humble beginnings. She moves to London and takes a job as a typist, but soon finds herself in a world of glamour and luxury that she never dreamed of. She meets a wealthy man, Lord Charles, who is captivated by her beauty and charm, and they soon become engaged. But Mary soon discovers that Lord Charles is not all he seems, and she must decide whether to stay with him or risk everything to pursue her own dreams. The novel follows Mary as she navigates the complexities of love, ambition, and class in 1920s England.
By E.M. Delafield · First published 1926 · Genre: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction · 4,560 words
First lines
He was rather a stolid little boy, but they did their very best with him.
He had, of course, exactly the same treats as the other children, the same pleasures, the same privileges. His toys and presents were better than theirs, if anything, because his aunt, in her heart of hearts, knew him to be less attractive than her own Cynthia and Jeremy and Diana.
What this Textopian page supports
The Philistine: A Story is listed on Textopian as a short story by E.M. Delafield, dated 1926 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: E.M. Delafield
- Date: 1926 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction, Drama
- Length: 4,560 words
- Structure: 1 section, 186 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Philistine: A Story by E.M. Delafield
- 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 Philistine: A Story?
- How does this short story by E.M. Delafield fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Realistic Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- Colin Ii by E. F. Benson
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- Atrophy by Edith Wharton
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Genres
- Realistic Fiction — The Philistine: A Story is a realistic fiction novel that follows the life of a woman in the early 20th century. It follows her struggles with relationships, family, and society, and is written in a realistic style.
- Romance — The Philistine: A Story contains elements of romance, as the protagonist is in a relationship with a man and the novel follows their struggles and successes in the relationship.
- Historical Fiction — The Philistine: A Story is set in the early 20th century and contains elements of historical fiction, as it follows the protagonist's life in a specific time period and includes references to historical events.
- Drama — The Philistine: A Story contains elements of drama, as it follows the protagonist's struggles with relationships, family, and society, and is written in a dramatic style.
Tags
society · class · cultural critique · satire · feminism · identity · relationships · social norms · British literature · early 20th century · character study · humor