Father's Story
Father's Story is a novel by Elizabeth Madox Roberts, published in 1931. It tells the story of a Kentucky family, the Logans, and their struggles to survive in the early twentieth century. The novel follows the life of the family patriarch, John Logan, as he works to provide for his family and keep them safe. He is a hardworking farmer, but his efforts are often thwarted by the harsh realities of life in rural Kentucky. He is forced to take on a variety of jobs, from working in a coal mine to running a moonshine still, in order to make ends meet. John's wife, Mary, is a strong and determined woman who is determined to keep her family together despite the hardships they face. She is a loving mother and wife, and her faith in God helps her to remain strong in the face of adversity. The novel follows the Logans as they face a variety of challenges, from poverty and illness to racism and violence. Through it all, John and Mary remain devoted to each other and their children, and their faith in God helps them to persevere. In the end, the Logans are able to overcome their struggles and find a measure of peace and contentment.
By Elizabeth Madox Roberts · First published 1922 · Genre: Southern Gothic, Historical Fiction, Family Saga · 193 words
First lines
We put more coal on the big red fire, And while we are waiting for dinner to cook, Our father comes and tells us about A story that he has read in a book.
And Charles and Will and Dick and I And all of us but Clarence are there. And some of us sit on Father's legs, But one has to sit on the little red chair.
And when we are sitting very still, He sings us a song or tells a piece; He sings Dan Tucker Went to Town, Or he tells us about the golden fleece.
He tells about the golden wool, And some of it is about a boy Named Jason, and about a ship, And some is about a town called Troy.
What this Textopian page supports
Father's Story is listed on Textopian as a short story by Elizabeth Madox Roberts, dated 1922 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- Date: 1922 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Southern Gothic, Historical Fiction, Family Saga, Literary Fiction
- Length: 193 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Father's Story by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- 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 Father's Story?
- How does this short story by Elizabeth Madox Roberts fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Southern Gothic first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Southern Gothic — The novel is set in the rural South and features a protagonist who is haunted by his past and struggles with his identity.
- Historical Fiction — The novel is set in the early 20th century and features characters who are shaped by the events of the time period.
- Family Saga — The novel follows the protagonist's family over several generations and explores the relationships between them.
- Literary Fiction — The novel is written in a lyrical style and focuses on the inner lives of its characters.
Tags
American · American poetry · Children's poetry · arm · book · boy · chair · charles · children's poetry, american · coal · cook · dents