A Maid of Modern Athens
A MAID OF MODERN ATHENS is a novel by Edgar Saltus that tells the story of a young woman named Athena who lives in New York City during the Gilded Age. The book explores themes of love, ambition, and social class as Athena navigates her way through high society while trying to find true happiness.
By Edgar Saltus · First published 1893 · Genre: Romance, Historical Fiction, Drama · 5,864 words
First lines
"It was this way," she said, and as she spoke she stooped and flicked a speck of dust from her habit. "It was this way: The existence which I lead in the minds of other people is absolutely of no importance whatever. Now wait: I care a great deal whether school keeps or not, but in caring I try chiefly to be true to myself. I may stumble; I may not. In any event I seek the best. As for the scandal of which you speak, that is nonsense. There is no criterion. That which is permissible here is inhibited yonder, and what is permissible yonder is inhibited here. Scandal, indeed!"
What this Textopian page supports
A Maid of Modern Athens is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edgar Saltus, dated 1893 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Edgar Saltus
- Date: 1893 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Drama
- Length: 5,864 words
- Structure: 1 section, 46 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Maid of Modern Athens by Edgar Saltus
- 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 A Maid of Modern Athens?
- How does this short story by Edgar Saltus fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Romance first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Romance — The narrative primarily revolves around a love story, making it a romance.
- Historical Fiction — The setting and context are based on historical events and periods, classifying it as historical fiction.
- Drama — The narrative contains dramatic elements and conflicts, hence it can be categorized as drama.
Tags
historical fiction · Athens · 19th century · romance · drama · cultural exploration · social commentary · female protagonist · identity · class struggle · modernity · Greek society