The Ball of Fire
The Ball of Fire is a novel by George Randolph Chester that tells the story of a young man named John Dale who becomes involved in a series of financial schemes and eventually finds himself embroiled in a dangerous game of high-stakes gambling. The book explores themes of greed, ambition, and the corrupting influence of money on human behavior.
By George Randolph Chester · First published 1923 · Genre: Adventure, Humor, Romance · 36 chapters · 119,683 words
First lines
Silence pervaded the dim old aisles of Market Square Church; a silence which seemed to be palpable; a solemn hush which wavered, like the ghostly echoes of anthems long forgotten, among the slender columns and the high arches and the delicate tracery of the groining; the winter sun, streaming through the clerestory windows, cast, on the floor and on the vacant benches, patches of ruby and of sapphire, of emerald and of topaz, these seeming only to accentuate the dimness and the silence.
What this Textopian page supports
The Ball of Fire is listed on Textopian as a novel by George Randolph Chester, dated 1923 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: George Randolph Chester
- Date: 1923 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Adventure, Humor, Romance, Drama, Satire
- Length: 119,683 words
- Structure: 36 chapters, 2,160 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Ball of Fire by George Randolph Chester
- 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 Ball of Fire?
- How does this novel by George Randolph Chester fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Adventure first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Adventure — The plot revolves around exciting and risky undertakings, typical of adventure stories.
- Humor — The writing style and character interactions are infused with wit and comedic elements.
- Romance — The narrative includes romantic relationships as a significant theme.
- Drama — The story contains emotional and conflict-driven elements characteristic of drama.
Tags
adventure · mystery · romance · suspense · drama · historical · fiction · action · intrigue · friendship · betrayal · courage
Contents
- No Place for Sentiment
- Why?
- The Change in the Rector's Eyes
- Too Many Men
- Edward E. Allison Takes a Vacation
- The Impulsive Young Man from Home
- They had Already Spoiled her!
- Still Piecing out the World
- The Mine for the Golden Altar
- The Storm Centre of Magnetic Attraction
- Gentlemen, there is your Empire!
- Gail Solves the Problem of Vedder Court
- The Survival of the Fittest
- The Free and Entirely Uncurbed
- But why was she Lonesome?
- Gail at Home
- Something Happens to Gerald Fosland
- The Message from New York
- The Rector Knows
- The Breed of Gail
- The Public is Aroused
- The Rev. Smith Boyd Protests
- A Series of Gaieties
- The Maker of Maps
- A Question of Eugenics
- An Empire and an Empress
- Allison's Private and Particular Devil
- Love
- Gail First!
- The Flutter of a Sheet of Music
- Gail Breaks a Promise
- Gerald Fosland Makes a Speech
- Chicken, or Steak?
- A Matter of Conscience
- A Vestry Meeting
- Hand in Hand