The Marble Child by Edith Nesbit
The Marble Child, by Edith Nesbit: A young boy named Paul is born with a rare condition that makes his skin feel like marble. Despite his unusual appearance, Paul is a kind and gentle soul who dreams of finding true friendship and acceptance. However, his journey is fraught with challenges as he faces discrimination and rejection from those around him. Will Paul find the happiness and understanding he desires, or will his marble skin continue to isolate him?
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1903 · Genre: Children's literature, Fantasy, Adventure · 4,328 words
First lines
All over the pavement of the church spread the exaggerated cross-hatching of the old pews' oak, a Smithfield market of intersecting lines such as children made with cards in the old days when kings and knaves had fat legs bulging above their serviceable feet, and queens had skirts to their gowns and were not cut across their royal middles by mirrors reflecting only the bedizened torso of them and the charge -- heart, trefoil, or the like -- in the right-hand top corner of the oblong that framed them.
The pew had qualities: tall fat hassocks, red cushions, a comparative seclusion, and, in the case of the affluent, red curtains drawn at sermon-time.
What this Textopian page supports
The Marble Child 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: Children's literature, Fantasy, Adventure, Fiction
- Length: 4,328 words
- Structure: 1 section, 111 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Marble Child 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 The Marble Child?
- How does this novel by Edith Nesbit fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Children's literature first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The House Of Arden by Edith Nesbit
- The Story Of The Amulet by Edith Nesbit
- The Enchanted Castle by Edith Nesbit
- Wet Magic by Edith Nesbit
- The White Cat by Gelett Burgess
- The Phoenix And The Carpet by Edith Nesbit
Genres
- Children's literature — The book revolves around the enchanting adventures of a child, making it suitable for a young audience.
- Fantasy — The plot includes magical elements such as the marble child coming alive, fitting the fantasy genre.
- Adventure — The story involves exploration and exciting experiences, defining characteristics of an adventure genre.
- Fiction — The story is a creative product of the author's imagination, and does not represent actual events or people.
Tags
fantasy · children's literature · magic · adventure · friendship · imagination · family · mystery · supernatural · coming of age · British literature · mythical creatures