An English Shire by Grant Allen
The novel An English Shire by Grant Allen tells the story of a young man named Harry who returns to his hometown after years away and discovers that it has changed drastically. He becomes involved in local politics and falls in love with a woman named Mary, but their relationship is complicated by class differences and social expectations. The novel explores themes of tradition versus progress, the role of women in society, and the tension between rural and urban life.
By Grant Allen · First published 1893 · Genre: Non-fiction, History, Geography · 11,313 words
First lines
For the reasons which have determined the existence of Sussex as a county of England, and which have given it the exact boundaries that it now possesses, we must go back to the remote geological history of the secondary ages. Its limits and its very existence as a separate shire were predetermined for it by the shape and consistence of the mud or sand which gathered at the bottom of the great Wealden lake, or filled up the hollows of the old inland cretaceous sea. Paradoxical as it sounds to say so, the Celtic kingdom of the Regni, the South Saxon principality of AElle the Bretwalda, the modern English county of Sussex, have all had their destinies moulded by the geological conformation of the rock upon which they repose.
What this Textopian page supports
An English Shire is listed on Textopian as a novella by Grant Allen, dated 1893 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: Grant Allen
- Date: 1893 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Non-fiction, History, Geography, Anthropology, Sociology
- Length: 11,313 words
- Structure: 1 section, 88 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Non-fiction — The book provides a detailed historical and geographical analysis of Sussex, focusing on factual information and historical events.
- History — The narrative delves into the historical development of Sussex, discussing its past from geological formations to human settlements.
- Geography — The text extensively covers the geographical features and geological history of Sussex, explaining how these have influenced human activity.
- Anthropology — The book examines the interaction between human societies and their environment, discussing cultural and societal developments in Sussex.
Tags
rural · England · landscape · nature · countryside · history · culture · community · tradition · travel · exploration · scenery