A Piece of Possible History
The story revolves around a utopian society where all conflicts and disagreements are resolved through a complex system of arbitration and mediation. The narrative follows an unnamed protagonist who becomes involved in a dispute between two nations, which ultimately leads to the revelation of a hidden underground city.
By Edward Everett Hale · First published 1869 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Speculative Fiction · 6,094 words
First lines
[This essay was first published in the Monthly Religious Magazine, Boston, for October, 1851. One or another professor of chronology has since taken pains to tell me that it is impossible. But until they satisfy themselves whether Homer ever lived at all, I shall hold to the note which I wrote to Miss Dryasdust's cousin, which I printed originally at the end of the article, and which will be found there in this collection. The difficulties in the geography are perhaps worse than those of chronology.]
What this Textopian page supports
A Piece of Possible History is listed on Textopian as a novella by Edward Everett Hale, dated 1869 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: Edward Everett Hale
- Date: 1869 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Speculative Fiction, Drama, Literary Fiction
- Length: 6,094 words
- Structure: 1 section, 129 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Piece of Possible History by Edward Everett Hale
- 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 A Piece of Possible History?
- How does this novella by Edward Everett Hale fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Historical Fiction — The plot and themes revolve around historical events and figures, blending fact with fiction.
- Adventure — The narrative includes elements of exploration and discovery, typical of adventure stories.
- Speculative Fiction — The story explores alternative historical outcomes, a hallmark of speculative fiction.
- Drama — The writing style and character interactions emphasize emotional and relational conflicts.
Tags
Science Fiction · Alternate History · Historical Fiction · Speculative Fiction · Philosophical · Thought-Provoking · Imaginative · Intriguing · Mystery · Adventure · Exploratory · Psychological Insight