Strictly Incog by Grant Allen (1893)
Strictly Incog is a novel by Grant Allen that follows the story of a man who assumes a new identity in order to escape his past and start anew. The book explores themes of identity, deception, and redemption as the protagonist navigates his new life while trying to keep his true self hidden from those around him.
By Grant Allen · First published 1893 · Genre: Adventure, Natural History, Science · 7,337 words
First lines
Among the reefs of rock upon the Australian coast, an explorer's dredge often brings up to the surface some tangled tresses of reddish seaweed, which, when placed for a while in a bucket of water, begin slowly to uncoil themselves as if endowed with animal life, and finally to swim about with a gentle tremulous motion in a mute inquiring way from side to side of the pail that contains them. Looked at closely with an attentive eye, the complex moving mass gradually resolves itself into two parts: one a ruddy seaweed with long streaming fronds; the other, a strangely misshapen and dishevelled pipe-fish, exactly imitating the weed itself in form and colour. When removed from the water, this queer pipe-fish proves in general outline somewhat to resemble the well-known hippocampus or sea-horse of the aquariums, whose dried remains, in a mummified state, form a standing wonder in many tiny domestic museums.
What this Textopian page supports
Strictly Incog is listed on Textopian as a short story 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: Short story
- Author: Grant Allen
- Date: 1893 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Adventure, Natural History, Science, Travel, Fiction
- Length: 7,337 words
- Structure: 1 section, 58 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Strictly Incog 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 Strictly Incog?
- How does this short story by Grant Allen fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Adventure first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Adventure — The narrative involves exploration and discovery, typical of adventure stories.
- Natural History — The text provides detailed observations of marine life and natural phenomena.
- Science — The work discusses biological concepts such as mimicry and adaptation.
- Travel — The setting and descriptions suggest a journey through diverse environments.
Tags
mystery · suspense · detective · crime · thriller · fiction · adventure · intrigue · plot twist · investigation · secrets · deception