A Book for the King by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
The story revolves around a young poet who writes a poem for the king and decides to take it to him personally. On his journey, he meets a beautiful woman who is also on her way to see the king, but with a different intention - to plead for her brother's life, who has been wrongly accused of treason.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1897 · Genre: Poetry, Drama, Religious · 136 words
First lines
A book has been made for the King, / A book of beauty and art; / To the good king's eyes / A smile shall rise / Hiding the ache in his heart- / Hiding the hurt and the grief / As he turns it, leaf by leaf.
A book has been made for the King, / A book of blood and of blight; / To the Great King's eyes / A look shall rise / That will blast and wither and smite- / Yes, smite with a just God's rage, / As He turns it, page by page.
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Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse with a focus on rhythm and meter.
- Drama — The themes of grief, rage, and divine justice suggest dramatic elements.
- Religious — References to a 'just God' and divine retribution indicate religious themes.
- Philosophical — The exploration of human emotions and divine justice suggests philosophical inquiry.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Romance · Love Poems · Kingdom · Royalty · Imagery · Symbolism · Allegory · Fantasy · Dreams
What this Textopian page supports
A Book for the King is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1897 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Date: 1897 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Drama, Religious, Philosophical, Historical
- Length: 136 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
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- Work identity for A Book for the King by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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