Mr. Wells by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
Mr. Wells is a novel by Elizabeth Madox Roberts set in rural Kentucky in the early 20th century. The story follows the life of the titular character, Mr. Wells, a farmer who is struggling to make ends meet. He is a hardworking man who is devoted to his family and his land, but he is also a dreamer who longs for something more. As the novel progresses, Mr. Wells is forced to confront the harsh realities of life and the difficult choices he must make in order to survive. Along the way, he discovers the power of friendship, love, and hope. Ultimately, Mr. Wells is a story of resilience and the strength of the human spirit.
By Elizabeth Madox Roberts · First published 1922 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Southern Gothic, Realism · 94 words
First lines
On Sunday morning, then he comes To church, and everybody smells The blacking and the toilet soap And camphor balls from Mr. Wells.
He wears his whiskers in a bunch, And wears his glasses on his head. I mustn't call him Old Man Wells -- No matter -- that's what Father said.
And when the little blacking smells And camphor balls and soap begin, I do not have to look to know That Mr. Wells is coming in.
What this Textopian page supports
Mr. Wells 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: Historical Fiction, Southern Gothic, Realism, Romance
- Length: 94 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Mr. Wells 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 Mr. Wells?
- How does this short story by Elizabeth Madox Roberts fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Historical Fiction — The novel is set in the early 20th century and follows the life of a rural Kentucky family, making it a historical fiction novel.
- Southern Gothic — The novel is set in the rural south and contains elements of the supernatural, making it a Southern Gothic novel.
- Realism — The novel is written in a realistic style, focusing on the everyday lives of the characters and their struggles.
- Romance — The novel contains a romantic subplot between two of the characters, making it a romance novel.
Tags
American · American poetry · Children's poetry · balls · blacking · bunch · camphor · children's poetry, american · church · coming · father · glasses