The House of Arden by Edith Nesbit

Name: The House of Arden
Author: Edith Nesbit

The House of Arden is a novel by Edith Nesbit, published in 1893. The story follows the adventures of three children who find themselves transported to a magical land called the House of Arden, where they encounter strange creatures and must navigate a series of challenges to return home. Along the way, they learn valuable lessons about courage, resourcefulness, and the importance of family.

By Edith Nesbit · First published 1903 · Genre: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Adventure · 14 chapters · 91,578 words

First lines

It had been a great house once, with farms and fields, money and jewels -- with tenants and squires and men-at-arms. The head of the house had ridden out three days' journey to meet King Henry at the boundary of his estate, and the King had ridden back with him to lie in the tall State bed in the castle guest-chamber. The heir of the house had led his following against Cromwell; younger sons of the house had fought in foreign lands, to the honour of England and the gilding and regilding with the perishable gold of glory of the old Arden name. There had been Ardens in Saxon times, and there were Ardens still -- but few and impoverished. The lands were gone, and the squires and men-at-arms; the castle itself was roofless, and its unglazed windows stared blankly across the fields of strangers, that stretched right up to the foot of its grey, weatherworn walls. And of the male Ardens there were now known two only -- an old man and a child.

What this Textopian page supports

The House of Arden is listed on Textopian as a novel by Edith Nesbit, dated 1903 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: Edith Nesbit
Date: 1903 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Adventure, Historical Fiction
Length: 91,578 words
Structure: 14 chapters, 2,064 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Fantasy — The main plot revolves around magic, time travel, and the involvement of mythical creatures, which are key elements of the fantasy genre.
Children's Literature — Edith Nesbit's 'The House of Arden' is presented through the eyes of child characters and its content, tone and language use are suitable for children.
Adventure — The protagonists embark on various adventures in different time periods in order to solve a family mystery, satisfying the adventure genre's requirements.
Historical Fiction — The story includes accurate portrayals of historical events and periods, such as the Battle of Agincourt and Victorian England, consistent with the historical fiction genre.