The Underground Railway
The Underground Railway is a historical novel by Felix Leigh, set in the mid-19th century. It follows the story of a young African-American man, John, who escapes slavery in the American South and embarks on a journey northward on the Underground Railroad. Along the way, he meets a variety of characters, including a former slave, a white abolitionist, and a runaway slave catcher. As he travels, John learns about the courage and determination of those who risked their lives to help others escape slavery. He also discovers the harsh realities of life on the run, as he faces danger and deprivation. Ultimately, John finds freedom and a new life in the North, but not without a price. The Underground Railway is a powerful story of courage, hope, and the power of friendship.
By Felix Leigh · First published 1883 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Romance · 166 words
First lines
Who is this in the Weighing Chair?
Why, little Dot, I do declare! Three stone five! "So much as that?" Calls out Miss Dot; "then I "must" be fat!"
On this and the opposite page you see Dot's mother, and brother, and sisters three. They wait for an underground train to come And carry them swiftly back to their home.
Wonderful trains! From morn till night, Clattering through tunnels without daylight, Hither and thither they run, up and down, Beneath the streets of London Town.
What this Textopian page supports
The Underground Railway is listed on Textopian as a short story by Felix Leigh, dated 1883 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Felix Leigh
- Date: 1883 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Romance, Mystery
- Length: 166 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Underground Railway by Felix Leigh
- 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 The Underground Railway?
- How does this short story by Felix Leigh fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Omnibus by Felix Leigh
- The 5th Of November by Felix Leigh
- In The British Museum by Felix Leigh
- The Crossing Sweeper by Felix Leigh
- The Cats Meat Man by Felix Leigh
- Cleopatras Needle by Felix Leigh
Genres
- Historical Fiction — The Underground Railway is a historical fiction novel that follows the story of a runaway slave in the 19th century United States.
- Adventure — The novel follows the protagonist's journey as they attempt to escape slavery and find freedom, making it an adventure story.
- Romance — The novel features a romantic subplot between the protagonist and another character, making it a romance novel.
- Mystery — The novel features a mystery element as the protagonist attempts to uncover the truth about their past and identity.
Tags
Children's Picture Books · Children's poetry · English · Juvenile poetry · London (England) · brother · busy · cabs · calls · carried · carry · chair