Desert Sands by Grant Allen (1895)
The novel Desert Sands by Grant Allen tells the story of a young man named Ralph who travels to Egypt in search of adventure and romance. Along the way, he encounters various obstacles and challenges that test his courage and resolve. The book is set against the backdrop of the Sahara desert and features vivid descriptions of the landscape and culture of North Africa.
By Grant Allen · First published 1895 · Genre: Travel Literature, Natural History, Geography · 5,758 words
First lines
If deserts _have_ a fault (which their present biographer is far from admitting), that fault may doubtless be found in the fact that their scenery as a rule tends to be just a trifle monotonous. Though fine in themselves, they lack variety. To be sure, very few of the deserts of real life possess that absolute flatness, sandiness and sameness, which characterises the familiar desert of the poet and of the annual exhibitions -- a desert all level yellow expanse, most bilious in its colouring, and relieved by but four allowable academy properties, a palm-tree, a camel, a sphinx, and a pyramid. For foreground, throw in a sheikh in appropriate drapery; for background, a sky-line and a bleaching skeleton; stir and mix, and your picture is finished. Most practical deserts one comes across in travelling, however, are a great deal less simple and theatrical than that; rock preponderates over sand in their composition, and inequalities of surface are often the rule rather than the exception.
What this Textopian page supports
Desert Sands is listed on Textopian as a novel 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: Novel
- Author: Grant Allen
- Date: 1895 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Travel Literature, Natural History, Geography, Science, Essay
- Length: 5,758 words
- Structure: 1 section, 42 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Desert Sands 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 Desert Sands?
- How does this novel by Grant Allen fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Similar titles
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- The Wanderer by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
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- Northern Lights Volume 3 by Gilbert Parker
- Northern Lights Volume 2 by Gilbert Parker
Genres
- Travel Literature — The text provides detailed descriptions of desert landscapes, climates, and geographical features, typical of travel literature.
- Natural History — The work discusses the flora and fauna of deserts, including adaptations of plants and animals, aligning with natural history.
- Geography — The narrative includes extensive geographical information about deserts, their formation, and distribution across the globe.
- Science — The text incorporates scientific explanations for desert phenomena, such as climate and ecological adaptations.
Tags
adventure · mystery · desert · exploration · survival · romance · historical · travel · culture · conflict · nature · isolation