A Desert Fruit by Grant Allen (1895)
A Desert Fruit is a novel by Grant Allen that tells the story of two young Englishmen who travel to Egypt in search of adventure and romance. The book explores themes of love, betrayal, and cultural differences as the protagonists navigate their way through the exotic landscape of the desert.
By Grant Allen · First published 1895 · Genre: Nature Writing, Science, Travel · 4,483 words
First lines
Who knows the Mediterranean, knows the prickly pear. Not that that quaint and uncanny-looking cactus, with its yellow blossoms and bristling fruits that seem to grow paradoxically out of the edge of thick fleshy leaves, is really a native of Italy, Spain, and North Africa, where it now abounds on every sun-smitten hillside. Like Mr. Henry James and Mr. Marion Crawford, the Barbary fig, as the French call it, is, in point of fact, an American citizen, domiciled and half naturalised on this side of the Atlantic, but redolent still at heart of its Columbian origin. Nothing is more common, indeed, than to see classical pictures of the Alma-Tadema school -- not, of course, from the brush of the master himself, who is impeccable in such details, but fair works of decent imitators -- in which Caia or Marcia leans gracefully in her white stole on one pensive elbow against a marble lintel, beside a courtyard decorated with a Pompeian basin, and overgrown with prickly pear or "American aloes."
What this Textopian page supports
A Desert Fruit is listed on Textopian as an article by Grant Allen, dated 1895 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Article
- Author: Grant Allen
- Date: 1895 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Nature Writing, Science, Travel, Essay, History
- Length: 4,483 words
- Structure: 1 section, 33 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Desert Fruit by Grant Allen
- 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 A Desert Fruit?
- How does this article by Grant Allen fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Nature Writing first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Wanderer by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
- Desert Sands by Grant Allen
- Ends Of The Earth by Mary Gaunt
- A Flight Of Quails by Grant Allen
- A Nevada Desert by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- The Tall Dakoon by Gilbert Parker
Genres
- Nature Writing — The text provides detailed descriptions and explanations of the prickly pear cactus, its origins, adaptations, and ecological significance.
- Science — The work delves into botanical and evolutionary concepts, discussing plant adaptations and survival strategies in arid environments.
- Travel — The narrative includes references to various geographical locations, such as the Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Americas, providing a sense of exploration and discovery.
- Essay — The text is structured as an informative and reflective essay, presenting observations and insights on the natural world.
Tags
adventure · romance · mystery · desert · exploration · survival · nature · cultural · historical · relationships · conflict · discovery