A Roman Singer by F. Marion Crawford

Name: A Roman Singer
Author: F. Marion Crawford

The story revolves around a young Italian nobleman who becomes infatuated with a beautiful and mysterious woman he meets at the opera. He soon discovers that she is a singer with an extraordinary voice, but also has a dark and troubled past. As their relationship deepens, he learns more about her history and the tragic events that have shaped her life.

By F. Marion Crawford · First published 1904 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Coming-of-Age, Drama · 24 chapters · 115,388 words

First lines

I, Cornelio Grandi, who tell you these things, have a story of my own, of which some of you are not ignorant. You know, for one thing, that I was not always poor, nor always a professor of philosophy, nor a scribbler of pedantic articles for a living. Many of you can remember why I was driven to sell my patrimony, the dear castello in the Sabines, with the good corn-land and the vineyards in the valley, and the olives, too. For I am not old yet; at least, Mariuccia is older, as I often tell her. These are queer times. It was not any fault of mine. But now that Nino is growing to be a famous man in the world, and people are saying good things and bad about him, and many say that he did wrong in this matter, I think it best to tell you all the whole truth and what I think of it. For Nino is just like a son to me; I brought him up from a little child, and taught him Latin, and would have made a philosopher of him. What could I do?

What this Textopian page supports

A Roman Singer is listed on Textopian as a novel by F. Marion Crawford, 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: F. Marion Crawford
Date: 1904 CE
Language: English
Genres: Literary Fiction, Coming-of-Age, Drama, Historical Fiction, Romance
Length: 115,388 words
Structure: 24 chapters, 1,792 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for A Roman Singer by F. Marion Crawford
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering A Roman Singer?
How does this novel by F. Marion Crawford fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Literary Fiction — The book explores deep themes of identity, ambition, and the human condition through rich character development and philosophical reflections.
Coming-of-Age — The protagonist, Nino, undergoes significant personal growth and transformation from a poor boy to a celebrated singer, highlighting the journey of self-discovery.
Drama — The narrative is filled with emotional conflicts, personal struggles, and the dynamics of relationships, particularly between Nino and his mentor.
Historical Fiction — Set in Rome, the story reflects the cultural and social context of the time, providing insights into the life of artists and the music scene.