The Game of Correspondence
The Game of Correspondence is a collection of humorous poems and stories written by Gelett Burgess in the early 20th century. The book includes works such as "The Purple Cow," "The Rubaiyat of Omar Cayenne," and "The Maxims of Methuselah." It is known for its witty and satirical commentary on society and culture at the time.
By Gelett Burgess · First published 1905 · Genre: Epistolary, Literary Fiction, Philosophical · 1,459 words
First lines
The receipt of a letter is no longer the event it was in the old stage-coach days; railways and the penny postage have robbed it of all excitement. One expects now one's little pile of white, blue and green envelopes beside one's plate at breakfast, along with one's toast and coffee, and one tastes its contents as one opens the matutinal egg. We have forgotten how to write interesting letters as we have forgotten how to fold and wafer a sheet of foolscap or sharpen a quill. Some of our missives are not even worth a cursory glance, many by no means deserve an answer, and most are speedily forgotten in the columns of the morning journal.
What this Textopian page supports
The Game of Correspondence is listed on Textopian as a short story by Gelett Burgess, dated 1905 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: 1905 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Epistolary, Literary Fiction, Philosophical, Social Commentary, Historical
- Length: 1,459 words
- Structure: 1 section, 14 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Game of Correspondence 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 The Game of Correspondence?
- How does this short story by Gelett Burgess fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Epistolary first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Caste Of The Articulate by Gelett Burgess
- The Too Ready Writer by George Eliot
- April Essays by Gelett Burgess
- Tickled By A Straw by Frank R. Stockton
- Purls Before Swine by Ring Lardner
- What Might Have Been Expected by Frank R. Stockton
Genres
- Epistolary — The narrative revolves around the art and nuances of letter writing, emphasizing the personal and artistic nature of correspondence.
- Literary Fiction — The work explores themes of communication, personal expression, and the subtleties of human interaction through a refined and stylistic prose.
- Philosophical — The text delves into philosophical musings on the nature of communication, the self, and the relationship between writer and reader.
- Social Commentary — The narrative critiques modern communication practices and reflects on the lost art of meaningful correspondence.
Tags
literature · correspondence · communication · epistolary · humor · satire · social commentary · friendship · relationships · creativity · imagination · playfulness