Kilo by Ellis Parker Butler (1904)

Name: Kilo
Author: Ellis Parker Butler

The story revolves around a small town's obsession with a mysterious weight, Kilo, which has been stolen from the local post office. The thief demands a ransom in exchange for its return, sparking a series of events that exposes the darker aspects of human nature. As the townspeople scramble to recover the weight, their true characters are revealed, and the novel builds towards a climax that challenges the notion of morality.

By Ellis Parker Butler · First published 1904 · Genre: Comedy, Fiction, Social Commentary · 19 chapters · 74,832 words

First lines

Eliph' Hewlitt, book agent, seated in his weather-beaten top buggy, drove his horse, Irontail, carefully along the rough Iowa hill road that leads from Jefferson to Clarence. The Horse, a rusty gray, tottered in a loose-jointed manner from side to side of the road, half asleep in the sun, and was indolent in every muscle of his body, except his tail, which thrashed violently at the flies. Eliph' Hewlitt drove with his hands held high, almost on a level with his sandy whiskers, for he was well acquainted with Irontail.

What this Textopian page supports

Kilo is listed on Textopian as a novel by Ellis Parker Butler, dated 1904 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: Ellis Parker Butler
Date: 1904 CE
Language: English
Genres: Comedy, Fiction, Social Commentary, Drama, Romance
Length: 74,832 words
Structure: 19 chapters, 1,178 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Kilo by Ellis Parker Butler
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering Kilo?
How does this novel by Ellis Parker Butler fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Comedy first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Comedy — The book primarily uses humor and satire to explore its themes and characters.
Fiction — The narrative is a work of imaginative storytelling with fictional characters and events.
Social Commentary — The story critiques and reflects on societal norms and behaviors.
Drama — The plot includes dramatic elements and conflicts among characters.