The Butcher's Bills
The Butcher's Bills is a novel by George MacDonald that tells the story of a young man named John who inherits his father's butcher shop and struggles to keep it afloat. The book explores themes of family, loyalty, and perseverance as John navigates the challenges of running a business while also dealing with personal relationships and conflicts.
By George MacDonald · First published 1865 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller · 5 chapters · 15,701 words
First lines
I am going to tell a story of married life. My title will prepare the reader for something hardly heroic; but I trust it will not be found lacking in the one genuine and worthy interest a tale ought to have -- namely, that it presents a door through which we may walk into one region or another of the human heart, and there find ourselves not altogether unacquainted or from home.
What this Textopian page supports
The Butcher's Bills is listed on Textopian as a short story by George MacDonald, dated 1865 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 MacDonald
- Date: 1865 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Drama, Crime
- Length: 15,701 words
- Structure: 5 chapters, 163 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Butcher's Bills by George MacDonald
- 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 Butcher's Bills?
- How does this short story by George MacDonald fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Historical Fiction — The narrative is set in a specific historical period, with detailed attention to historical accuracy and context.
- Mystery — The plot revolves around solving a central mystery, with clues and red herrings throughout.
- Thriller — The story maintains a high level of suspense and tension, with unexpected twists.
- Drama — The book explores complex characters and emotional themes, focusing on personal and interpersonal conflicts.
Tags
war · conflict · history · military · sacrifice · courage · loss · survival · grief · identity · family · betrayal
Contents
- Husband and Wife
- An Astonishment
- Another Astonishment
- What it Meant
- What Came of it