James Wiswell Coffin 3D
The story follows a young man named James Wiswell Coffin who inherits a large fortune from his uncle and decides to use it to travel the world. Along the way, he meets various interesting characters and has many adventures. The book is known for its humor and satire of American society at the time.
By Gelett Burgess · First published 1908 · Genre: Humor, Adventure, Satire · 4,775 words
First lines
"Nar, young man," said Coffee John, pointing the stem of his pipe at the lad in the red sweater, "seein' we've all agreed to testify, s'pose yer perceed to open the ball. You come in fust, an' you talk fust. I ain't no fly cop, but it strikes me you're a bit different from the rest of us, though we're all different enough, the Lord knows. Yer jacket fits yer, an' thet alone is enough to myke yer conspicus in this 'ere shop. I see a good many men parss in an' art from be'ind the carnter, but I don't see none too many o' the likes o' you. If I ain't mistook, you'll be by wye o' bein' wot I might call a amatoor at this 'ere sort o' livin', an' one as would find a joke w'erever 'e went. You'd larff at a bloomin' corpse, you would, and flirt with Queen Victoria. You'll never grow up, young fellar; I give yer thet stryte, before yer even open yer marth."
What this Textopian page supports
James Wiswell Coffin 3D is listed on Textopian as a short story by Gelett Burgess, dated 1908 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Gelett Burgess
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Adventure, Satire, Picaresque, Coming-of-Age
- Length: 4,775 words
- Structure: 1 section, 52 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for James Wiswell Coffin 3D by Gelett Burgess
- 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 James Wiswell Coffin 3D?
- How does this short story by Gelett Burgess fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Humor first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Humor — The narrative is filled with comedic elements, witty dialogue, and absurd situations that highlight the protagonist's misadventures.
- Adventure — The story follows the protagonist's journey and escapades across various locations, encountering different challenges and characters.
- Satire — The text satirizes societal norms, institutions, and the protagonist's own social class through exaggerated scenarios and characters.
- Picaresque — The protagonist is a roguish character who experiences a series of episodic adventures, often relying on wit and cunning.
Tags
adventure · mystery · fantasy · sci-fi · humor · satire · imagination · quirky · narrative · characters · plot twists · surrealism