A Spotted Orchis by Grant Allen
A Spotted Orchis is a novel by Grant Allen that tells the story of a young woman named Eve who discovers her true identity and falls in love with a man named Harry. The book explores themes of self-discovery, social class, and romance.
By Grant Allen · First published 1896 · Genre: Nature Writing, Botanical Science, Essay · 1,651 words
First lines
LIKE Mr. Chamberlain, I too am an orchid-grower. I own three acres (without a cow) on a heather-clad hilltop, and no small proportion of that landed estate is "down under orchids. " Not that I mean to say the species I cultivate, or rather allow to grow wild, on my wild little plot would excite the envy of the magnate of Highbury. They are nothing more than common English spotted orchids, springing free and spontaneous among the gorse and heather. But, oh! how beautiful they are! how much more beautiful than the dendrobiums and cattleyas, the flowering spiders and blossoming lizards of the rich man's hothouse! How proudly they raise their tall spikes of pale bloom, true sultanas of the moorland! how daintily they woo the big burly bumble bees! how gracefully they bend their nodding heads before the bold south-west that careers across the country! They seem to me always such great regal flowers, yet simple with the simplicity of the untrodden upland.
What this Textopian page supports
A Spotted Orchis is listed on Textopian as a short story by Grant Allen, dated 1896 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Grant Allen
- Date: 1896 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Nature Writing, Botanical Science, Essay, Philosophical, Autobiographical
- Length: 1,651 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Spotted Orchis by Grant Allen
- 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
Similar titles
- The Green Woodpecker by Grant Allen
- The Harebell by Grant Allen
- A Romance Of The Marshes by G. K. Chesterton
- A Heather Episode by Grant Allen
- Ivy In The Copse by Grant Allen
- A Flight Of Quails by Grant Allen
Genres
- Nature Writing — The text focuses on the detailed description and admiration of orchids, their growth, and their interaction with the environment.
- Botanical Science — The work provides scientific insights into the biology and fertilization process of orchids, including their structure and ecological relationships.
- Essay — The narrative is structured as a reflective and informative essay, exploring themes of nature and plant life.
- Philosophical — The text delves into philosophical musings about nature's complexity and the interconnectedness of life.
Tags
nature · botany · orchids · romance · mystery · adventure · science · Victorian · flora · exploration · love · intrigue