The Clocks of Rondaine
In this tale, a young boy discovers that the clocks of his village are running backwards, and he must unravel the mystery behind this phenomenon. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the reversal of time has caused chaos in the lives of the villagers. People who were once old are now young again, and memories from past events are being erased. The boy's investigation leads him to a hidden underground world where he encounters strange creatures and uncovers a sinister plot to alter the fabric of reality. Through his journey, the boy learns valuable lessons about time, memory, and the importance of preserving one's history.
By Frank R. Stockton · First published 1872 · Genre: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Fable · 7,579 words
First lines
Centuries ago, there stood on the banks of a river a little town called Rondaine. The river was a long and winding stream which ran through different countries, and was sometimes narrow and swift, and sometimes broad and placid; sometimes hurrying through mountain passes, and again meandering quietly through fertile plains; in some places of a blue color and almost transparent, and in others of a dark and sombre hue; and so it changed until it threw itself into a warm, far-spreading sea.
What this Textopian page supports
The Clocks of Rondaine is listed on Textopian as a novella by Frank R. Stockton, dated 1872 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: Frank R. Stockton
- Date: 1872 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Fable, Adventure, Humor
- Length: 7,579 words
- Structure: 1 section, 114 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Clocks of Rondaine 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
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Clocks of Rondaine?
- How does this novella by Frank R. Stockton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Fantasy — The story is set in a fictional town with whimsical elements like talking clocks and a magical rose-clock.
- Children's Literature — The narrative is simple, with a young protagonist and moral lessons, making it suitable for children.
- Fable — The story conveys moral lessons through allegorical elements and anthropomorphized objects.
- Adventure — The protagonist embarks on a journey through the town to solve a problem, encountering various characters.
Tags
Fantasy · Adventure · Mystery · Supernatural · Romance · Historical Fiction · Time Travel · Alternate Reality · Parallel Universe · Science Fantasy · Speculative Fiction · Magical Realism