An Episode in High Life
An Episode in High Life is a novel by Grant Allen that follows the story of a wealthy young man named Lord Bertie who becomes involved with a group of criminals and falls into a life of crime. The book explores themes of class, morality, and redemption as Lord Bertie struggles to reconcile his privileged upbringing with his newfound criminal lifestyle.
By Grant Allen · First published 1895 · Genre: Romance, Social Commentary, Drama · 10,148 words
First lines
Sir Henry Vardon, K. C. B., electrician to the Admiralty, whose title, as everybody knows, was gazetted some six weeks since, is at this moment the youngest living member of the British knighthood. He is now only just thirty, and he has obtained his present high distinction by those remarkable inventions of his in the matter of electrical signalling and lighthouse arrangements which have been so much talked about in _Nature_ this year, and which gained him the gold medal of the Royal Society in 1881. Lady Vardon is one of the youngest and prettiest hostesses in London, and if you would care to hear the history of their courtship here it is.
What this Textopian page supports
An Episode in High Life is listed on Textopian as a short story 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: Short story
- Author: Grant Allen
- Date: 1895 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romance, Social Commentary, Drama, Historical Fiction, Comedy of Manners
- Length: 10,148 words
- Structure: 1 section, 101 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for An Episode in High Life 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
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering An Episode in High Life?
- How does this short story by Grant Allen fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Romance first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Romance — The central plot revolves around romantic relationships and courtship, particularly focusing on Harry Vardon's interactions with Lady Gladys and Ethel Martindale.
- Social Commentary — The narrative explores themes of class distinction, societal expectations, and the impact of social status on personal relationships.
- Drama — The story contains dramatic elements such as emotional conflicts, misunderstandings, and the tension between personal desires and societal norms.
- Historical Fiction — Set in a specific historical context, the story reflects the social and cultural norms of the time, particularly in relation to the British class system.
Tags
satire · social commentary · Victorian era · class struggle · humor · romance · mystery · character study · British literature · narrative style · irony · society