Mud by Grant Allen (1895)
The novel Mud, written by Grant Allen, tells the story of a young man named Richard Harding who becomes stranded on an island after his ship sinks. He must survive in the wilderness and learn to adapt to his new environment. Along the way, he meets a group of natives who teach him their ways and help him survive. The book explores themes of survival, adaptation, and cultural exchange.
By Grant Allen · First published 1895 · Genre: Non-fiction, Science, Essay · 5,568 words
First lines
Even a prejudiced observer will readily admit that the most valuable mineral on earth is mud. Diamonds and rubies are just nowhere by comparison. I don't mean weight for weight, of course -- mud is 'cheap as dirt,' to buy in small quantities -- but aggregate for aggregate. Quite literally, and without hocus-pocus of any sort, the money valuation of the mud in the world must outnumber many thousand times the money valuation of all the other minerals put together. Only we reckon it usually not by the ton, but by the acre, though the acre is worth most where the mud lies deepest. Nay, more, the world's wealth is wholly based on mud. Corn, not gold, is the true standard of value. Without mud there would be no human life, no productions of any kind: for food stuffs of every description are raised on mud; and where no mud exists, or can be made to exist, there, we say, there is desert or sand-waste. Land, without mud, has no economic value.
What this Textopian page supports
Mud 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: Non-fiction, Science, Essay, Travel, Philosophy
- Length: 5,568 words
- Structure: 1 section, 41 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Mud 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 Mud?
- How does this short story by Grant Allen fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Non-fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Ends Of The Earth by Mary Gaunt
- Thirsty Island by Andrew Barton Paterson
- The Marooner by Charles A. Stearns
- In Leafless Woods by Grant Allen
- A Desert Fruit by Grant Allen
- In Waste Places by Gilbert Parker
Genres
- Non-fiction — The text is an informative exploration of the significance of mud in geological and agricultural contexts, presenting factual information and analysis.
- Science — The work delves into geological processes, river systems, and the formation of alluvial plains, focusing on scientific explanations and observations.
- Essay — The writing style is reflective and discursive, presenting arguments and insights on the importance of mud in human civilization and natural history.
- Travel — The narrative includes descriptions of various geographical locations and their landscapes, akin to a travelogue that educates the reader about different regions.
Tags
nature · adventure · survival · mystery · exploration · environment · conflict · human relationships · isolation · resilience · discovery · landscape