The Magic Cigar by E.W. Hornung
THE MAGIC CIGAR is a novel by E.W. Hornung that follows the adventures of a young man named Jimmy who inherits a magical cigar from his uncle. The cigar has the power to grant wishes, but only if they are made while smoking it. As Jimmy navigates through life and encounters various obstacles, he learns valuable lessons about the consequences of wishing for things without considering their potential outcomes. Along the way, he also discovers that true happiness comes from within and cannot be found in material possessions or superficial desires.
By E.W. Hornung · First published 1897 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Drama, Adventure · 5,231 words
First lines
It was one of such a hundred as seldom find their way to the back-blocks of New South Wales. And the box was heralded by the following letter, written at a London club in the depth of winter, and read by me in my shirt-sleeves some few weeks later, as I rode home to the station with our weekly mail: --
What this Textopian page supports
The Magic Cigar is listed on Textopian as a short story by E.W. Hornung, dated 1897 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.W. Hornung
- Date: 1897 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Drama, Adventure, Romance, Historical Fiction
- Length: 5,231 words
- Structure: 1 section, 73 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Magic Cigar by E.W. Hornung
- 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 Magic Cigar?
- How does this short story by E.W. Hornung fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A Spin Of The Coin by E. W. Hornung
- The Sweet Singer by Edgar Wallace
- The Last Word by E. W. Hornung
- A Jubilee Present by E. W. Hornung
- No Sinecure by E. W. Hornung
- Denis Dent by E. W. Hornung
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The narrative explores deep themes of regret, identity, and the human condition, focusing on character development and emotional depth.
- Drama — The story contains intense emotional exchanges and personal conflicts, particularly surrounding the character of Hell-fire Jim and his past.
- Adventure — The setting in the Australian bush and the interactions between characters provide elements of exploration and survival.
- Romance — The backstory involves a romantic relationship that is central to the protagonist's motivations and regrets.
Tags
mystery · adventure · crime · suspense · thriller · detective · fiction · short stories · plot twist · deception · intrigue · narrative