The Spread Eagle
The Spread Eagle is a novel written by Gouverneur Morris and published in 1932. The story follows the life of a young man named John Marvin, who leaves his small town to pursue his dreams in New York City. Along the way, he encounters various characters and experiences that shape him into the person he becomes. The novel explores themes such as ambition, success, failure, love, and loss.
By Gouverneur Morris · First published 1832 · Genre: Political Fiction, Satire, Social Commentary · 13,895 words
First lines
In his extreme youth the adulation of all with whom he came in contact was not a cross to Fitzhugh Williams. It was the fear of expatriation that darkened his soul. From the age of five to the age of fourteen he was dragged about Europe by the hair of his head. I use his own subsequent expression. His father wanted him to be a good American; his mother wanted him to be a polite American, And to be polite, in her mind, was to be at home in French and German, to speak English (or American) with the accent of no particular locality, to know famous pictures when you saw them, and, if little, to be bosom friends with little dukes and duchesses and counts of the Empire, to play in the gravel gardens of St. Germain, to know French history, and to have for exercise the mild English variations of American games -- cricket instead of base-ball; instead of football, Rugby, or, in winter, lugeing above Montreux.
What this Textopian page supports
The Spread Eagle is listed on Textopian as a novel by Gouverneur Morris, dated 1832 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Gouverneur Morris
- Date: 1832 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Political Fiction, Satire, Social Commentary, Historical Fiction, Drama
- Length: 13,895 words
- Structure: 1 section, 265 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Spread Eagle by Gouverneur Morris
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Spread Eagle?
- How does this novel by Gouverneur Morris fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Political Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Political Fiction — The book explores themes of political power and influence, focusing on the intricacies of governance and societal structures.
- Satire — The narrative employs humor and irony to critique political and social issues, highlighting the absurdities within the system.
- Social Commentary — The story provides insights into the social dynamics and cultural norms of the time, offering a critique of contemporary society.
- Historical Fiction — Set in a specific historical context, the book incorporates real events and figures to enhance the narrative's authenticity.
Tags
historical fiction · American history · political intrigue · romance · adventure · 19th century · social commentary · satire · cultural critique · identity · nationalism · conflict