Desire by Frederic Manning (1924)
"Desire" by Frederic Manning is a novel set during World War I that follows the experiences of an Australian soldier named Private Hervey. The book explores themes of masculinity, camaraderie, and the brutality of war through its vivid descriptions of battle scenes and the daily lives of soldiers in the trenches.
By Frederic Manning · First published 1924 · Genre: Poetry, War Literature, Romantic · 185 words
First lines
I would sing thy face / Sitting here in the firelight; / Mid the senseless noise of guns / Comes it as a flower between the flames.
Sea-blue thine eyes, and bright as hawk's are, / Yet frail thy face as an image in clear water / As a pearl lying there, hidden or plain, when light / Wavers upon it: mobile as thy moods are / Or faint as a star in the mist's milk: / And frail thine hands, / Delicate, / Hovering in infinite slow gesture, nigh speech / Hesitating, poised, / Fragile: they would not mar / Gray bloom on a ripe plum.
I would sing thy face / To forget this.
But thy face sings to me from the slim flames / And my praise is silence, and my prayer.
What this Textopian page supports
Desire is listed on Textopian as a short story by Frederic Manning, dated 1924 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Frederic Manning
- Date: 1924 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, War Literature, Romantic, Modernist
- Length: 185 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Desire by Frederic Manning
- 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
Similar titles
- Love Alone by Frederic Manning
- Loves Language by Gilbert Parker
- The Letter Amy Lowell by D. H. Lawrence
- Eros Glittering by Frederic Manning
- Amor Mio Mi Amor Amor Hallado by Jaime Sabines
- New Love And Old by Sara Teasdale
Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse form, with a focus on lyrical expression and imagery.
- War Literature — References to 'the senseless noise of guns' suggest themes related to war and its impact.
- Romantic — The focus on the beauty and delicacy of a face suggests romantic themes.
- Modernist — The use of fragmented imagery and introspective tone aligns with modernist literary techniques.
Tags
desire · love · passion · human experience · relationships · emotions · intimacy · conflict · identity · self-discovery · yearning · longing