The Romance of a Dictionary
The memoir recounts the author's childhood and his relationship with his father, Philip Henry Gosse, a marine biologist and strict religious fundamentalist. The book explores the tension between the father's rigid worldview and the son's emerging individuality, as well as the son's fascination with literature and language.
By Edmund Gosse · First published 1911 · Genre: Historical Non-fiction, Biography, Drama · 2,487 words
First lines
HISTOIRE DE L'ACADEMIE FRANCOISE: _avec un Abrege des Vies du Cardinal de Richelieu, Vaugelas, Corneille, Ablancourt, Mezerai, Voiture, Patru, la Fontaine, Boileau, Racine Et autres Illustres Academiciens qui la Composent_. _A La Haye, MDCLXXXVIII_.
What this Textopian page supports
The Romance of a Dictionary is listed on Textopian as an essay by Edmund Gosse, dated 1911 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: 1911 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Non-fiction, Biography, Drama, Academic Literature
- Length: 2,487 words
- Structure: 1 section, 19 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Romance of a Dictionary by Edmund Gosse
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Romance of a Dictionary?
- How does this essay by Edmund Gosse fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Non-fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Historical Non-fiction — The work provides a detailed account of historical events, specifically the conflict within the French Academy in the 17th century.
- Biography — The narrative focuses on the life and work of Antoine Furetiere, a member of the French Academy, making it a biographical account.
- Drama — The work presents a dramatic conflict between Furetiere and the French Academy, with elements of personal and professional rivalry.
- Academic Literature — The work discusses the process of dictionary creation and the academic politics of the French Academy, making it relevant to academic literature.
Tags
Autobiography · Literary Criticism · Memoir · Biographical · Historical · Cultural Heritage · Language and Linguistics · Lexicography · Philology · Victorian Era · 19th Century Literature · British Literature