Magic by Edith Nesbit (1907)
The story revolves around a person's life being transformed by a mysterious woman with magical powers. The narrator's ordinary life is disrupted when the woman arrives, bringing chaos and magic into their world. She turns their practical building site into an enchanted garden, where they are alone together. However, the spell is eventually broken, and the narrator is expelled from the magical land, finding themselves back on a familiar suburban road with a stranger who accuses them of ruining the woman's life.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1907 · Genre: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Adventure · 307 words
First lines
WHAT was the spell she wove for me? Life was a common useful thing, An eligible building site To hold a house to shelter me.
There were no woodlands whispering; No unimagined dreams at night About that house had folded wing, Disordering my life for me.
What this Textopian page supports
Magic is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edith Nesbit, dated 1907 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Edith Nesbit
- Date: 1907 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Adventure, Comedy
- Length: 307 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Magic by Edith Nesbit
- 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 Magic?
- How does this short story by Edith Nesbit fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- White Magic by Edith Nesbit
- Accidental Magic Or Dont Tell All You Know by Edith Nesbit
- The Vain Spell by Edith Nesbit
- En Tout Cas by Edith Nesbit
- Grandsire Triples by Edith Nesbit
- The Magic City by Edith Nesbit
Genres
- Fantasy — The book revolves around the use of magic and supernatural elements.
- Children's Literature — The book is primarily targeted towards children and young readers.
- Adventure — The plot involves a series of adventures and quests.
- Comedy — The book contains elements of humor and satire.
Tags
Fantasy · Children's Literature · Adventure · Magic Realism · Humor · Family · Friendship · Growing Up · Imagination · Whimsy · Quest · Good vs Evil