Pretty Poll by Grant Allen (1894)
"Pretty Poll" is a novel by Grant Allen that tells the story of a young woman named Polly who lives in a small town in England during the Victorian era. The book follows her journey from being a simple country girl to becoming a successful actress and singer in London. Along the way, she faces many challenges and obstacles, including romantic entanglements and social pressures. The novel explores themes of class, gender, and identity, as well as the power of art and creativity to transform lives.
By Grant Allen · First published 1894 · Genre: Natural History, Science, Essay · 6,021 words
First lines
It is an error of youth to despise parrots for their much talking. Loquacity isn't always a sign of empty-headedness, nor is silence a sure proof of weight and wisdom. Biologists, for their part, know better than that. By common consent, they rank the parrot group as the very head and crown of bird creation. Not, of course, because pretty Poll can talk (in a state of nature, parrots only chatter somewhat meaninglessly to one another), but because the group display on the whole, all round, a greater amount of intelligence, of cleverness, and of adaptability to circumstances than any other birds, including even their cunning and secretive rivals, the ravens, the jackdaws, the crows, and the magpies.
What this Textopian page supports
Pretty Poll is listed on Textopian as a novel by Grant Allen, dated 1894 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: 1894 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Natural History, Science, Essay, Philosophy, Humor
- Length: 6,021 words
- Structure: 1 section, 44 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Pretty Poll 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 Pretty Poll?
- How does this novel by Grant Allen fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Natural History first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Compensation by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
- Cyprian Overbeck Wells by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
- John Barrington Cowles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
- John Huxfords Hiatus by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
- A Sower Of Pestilence by R. Austin Freeman
- Piety by Carolyn Wells
Genres
- Natural History — The text provides detailed observations and explanations about the behavior, intelligence, and physical characteristics of parrots and other animals, focusing on their evolutionary adaptations.
- Science — The work discusses biological concepts, such as evolution, intelligence, and adaptation, referencing scientific figures like Herbert Spencer.
- Essay — The narrative is structured as an informative essay, presenting arguments and observations in a logical and expository manner.
- Philosophy — The text explores philosophical ideas about intelligence, perception, and the relationship between physical traits and mental capabilities.
Tags
mystery · suspense · detective · crime · thriller · fiction · literature · 19th century · British · social commentary · character study · plot twist