An Old Country-House
An Old Country-House is a short story written by Frank R. Stockton in 1890. The story follows the narrator's visit to an old country house where he meets a mysterious woman who claims to have lived there for over a century. As the narrator explores the house, he discovers that it has been frozen in time and is filled with strange artifacts from different eras. The story ends with the narrator leaving the house, but not before being warned by the woman never to return.
By Frank R. Stockton · First published 1897 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Literary Fiction · 942 words
First lines
Here is a picture of a handsome summer residence. It apparently belongs to a rich man, and a man of taste. The house is large and commodious; the grounds are well laid out; there is a garden, evidently a fine one, close at hand; there is shade, water, fruit, flowers, and apparently everything that a country-house ought to have.
But yet there is a certain something strange and unusual about it.
What this Textopian page supports
An Old Country-House is listed on Textopian as a short story by Frank R. Stockton, dated 1897 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Frank R. Stockton
- Date: 1897 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Literary Fiction, Adventure, Drama
- Length: 942 words
- Structure: 1 section, 17 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for An Old Country-House by Frank R. Stockton
- 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 An Old Country-House?
- How does this short story by Frank R. Stockton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- Foxglove Manor Volume Ii by Robert W. Buchanan
- Peter Nielsen by Sabine Baring Gould
- No 11 Welham Square by Herbert Stephen
- The Dusantes by Frank R. Stockton
- The Lady Of Launay by Anthony Trollope
Genres
- Historical Fiction — The story is set in a historical context, specifically ancient Egypt, and involves detailed descriptions of the period's architecture and social customs.
- Mystery — There is an element of intrigue and peculiarity surrounding the house and its construction, which adds a mysterious tone to the narrative.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style is descriptive and focuses on the aesthetic and thematic elements of the setting and characters.
- Adventure — The narrative involves exploration and discovery of an ancient house, which adds an adventurous aspect to the story.
Tags
mystery · historical · fiction · gothic · architecture · family · secrets · inheritance · narrative · setting · social commentary · character study