From Goudeli by George Borrow (1913)
Goudeli is a novel by George Borrow, first published in 1845. It is set in the fictional country of Goudeli, a small kingdom in the Balkans. The story follows the adventures of a young Englishman, John, who is sent to Goudeli to help the country's ruler, the Grand Duke, in his struggle against the oppressive Ottoman Empire. John soon finds himself embroiled in a complex web of political intrigue, as he is forced to choose between loyalty to the Grand Duke and loyalty to his own country. He also finds himself falling in love with a beautiful Goudelian princess, and must decide whether to pursue his own happiness or to remain loyal to his mission. The novel is a classic example of Borrow's style, combining adventure, romance, and political intrigue. It is a vivid portrait of a country in turmoil, and a powerful exploration of the themes of loyalty and betrayal.
By George Borrow · First published 1913 · Genre: Adventure, Travel Writing, Historical Fiction · 191 words
First lines
Yestere'en when the bat, and the owl, and his mate, Were holding discourse their small matters about; And the sun, that the wee little stars might shine out, Had extinguished the lamp of his lustre so great.
A shepherd exclaimed: "O 'twas folly that I My love should bestow upon one never kind, Upon Siris the lovely, whose cold, cruel mind, Would suffer unmoved a true lover to die.
"Often times, when our flocks on the common did browse, I'd approach her to pour in her ear my fond vows, But unto her companions to haste she was sure. O, light of my eyes! wouldst thou render me blest, And wouldst grant me two kisses on thy snowy breast, I swear that each one should an hour endure!"
What this Textopian page supports
From Goudeli is listed on Textopian as a short story by George Borrow, dated 1913 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: George Borrow
- Date: 1913 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Adventure, Travel Writing, Historical Fiction, Biography
- Length: 191 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for From Goudeli by George Borrow
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering From Goudeli?
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Genres
- Adventure — The book follows the adventures of George Borrow as he travels through Goudeli, encountering various people and cultures along the way.
- Travel Writing — The book is a travelogue of George Borrow's journey through Goudeli, detailing his experiences and observations.
- Historical Fiction — The book is set in the 19th century and includes historical details about the people and places of Goudeli.
- Biography — The book is based on the life and experiences of George Borrow, and includes details about his life and travels.
Tags
Ballads · Poetry · bat · bestow · cold · discourse · en · exclaimed · extinguished · folly · great · holding
More by George Borrow
- Marsk Stig's Daughters and Other Songs and Ballads (1913)
- The Return of the Dead and Other Ballads (1913)
- The King's Wake and Other Ballads (1913)
- Signelil (1913)
- A Tale from the Cornish (1913)
- Sir Verner and Dame Ingeborg (1913)
- The Heddeby Spectre (1913)
- Peasant Songs of Spain (1913)
- All works by George Borrow