The Author of "Pelham"
The story revolves around the life of Philip Charles Fortescue, a young boy who grows up in a strict and isolated household dominated by his father's religious fanaticism. The narrative explores themes of repression, rebellion, and the struggle for individuality within a restrictive environment.
By Edmund Gosse · First published 1892 · Genre: Biography, Non-fiction, Historical · 7,607 words
First lines
One hundred and twenty years have nearly passed since the birth of Bulwer-Lytton, and he continues to be suspended in a dim and ambiguous position in the history of our literature. He combined extraordinary qualities with fatal defects. He aimed at the highest eminence, and failed to reach it, but he was like an explorer, who is diverted from the main ascent of a mountain, and yet annexes an important table-land elsewhere. Bulwer-Lytton never secured the ungrudging praise of the best judges, but he attained great popularity, and has even now not wholly lost it. He is never quoted as one of our great writers, and yet he holds a place of his own from which it is improbable that he will ever be dislodged. Although he stood out prominently among his fellows, and although his career was tinged with scandal and even with romance, very little has been known about him. Curiosity has been foiled by the discretion of one party and the malignity of another.
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The Author of "Pelham" is listed on Textopian as an essay by Edmund Gosse, dated 1892 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: Edmund Gosse
- Date: 1892 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Biography, Non-fiction, Historical, Literary Criticism
- Length: 7,607 words
- Structure: 1 section, 59 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
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Genres
- Biography — The work is a detailed account of the life of a specific individual.
- Non-fiction — The work is based on real events and people, not on imagination.
- Historical — The work discusses events and individuals from a specific period in history.
- Literary Criticism — The work includes analysis and critique of other literary works.
Tags
Biography · Literary Criticism · 19th Century Literature · English Literature · Victorian Era · Autobiographical Elements · Memoir · Literary History · Cultural Analysis · Social Commentary · Historical Context · Author Study