Transport by Frederic Manning (1928)
The novel Transport follows the experiences of a young soldier during World War I. The story begins with the protagonist's enlistment and follows him through training, deployment to France, and his eventual participation in the Battle of the Somme. Along the way, he encounters various characters who shape his understanding of war and its impact on humanity.
By Frederic Manning · First published 1928 · Genre: War Fiction, Historical Fiction, Poetry · 190 words
First lines
The moon swims in milkiness, The road glimmers curving down into the wooded valley And with a clashing and creaking of tackle and axles The train of limbers passes me, and the mules Splash me with mud, thrusting me from the road into puddles, Straining at the tackle with a bitter patience, Passing me.
And into a patch of moonlight, With beautiful curved necks and manes, Heads reined back, and nostrils dilated, Impatient of restraint, Pass two gray stallions, Such as Oenetia bred; Beautiful as the horses of Hippolytus Carven on some antique frieze.
And my heart rejoices seeing their strength in play, The mere animal life of them, Lusting, As a thing passionate and proud.
What this Textopian page supports
Transport is listed on Textopian as a short story by Frederic Manning, dated 1928 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: 1928 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: War Fiction, Historical Fiction, Poetry, Literary Fiction
- Length: 190 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Transport 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
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Transport?
- How does this short story by Frederic Manning fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does War Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Reaction by Frederic Manning
- The Trenches by Frederic Manning
- A Shell by Frederic Manning
- The Guns by Frederic Manning
- Bois De Mametz by Frederic Manning
- The Old Calvary by Frederic Manning
Genres
- War Fiction — The narrative focuses on military themes, depicting the movement of troops and equipment, which is characteristic of war fiction.
- Historical Fiction — The setting and context suggest a historical period, likely related to wartime, providing a backdrop that aligns with historical fiction.
- Poetry — The writing style is lyrical and descriptive, with a focus on imagery and rhythm, resembling poetic form.
- Literary Fiction — The emphasis on detailed description and exploration of themes such as strength and beauty indicates a literary approach.
Tags
war · World War I · soldiers · combat · trench warfare · brotherhood · survival · camaraderie · loss · suffering · human experience · grief