The Arcadian Donkey by Grant Allen
The Arcadian Donkey is a novel by Grant Allen that tells the story of a young man named John who inherits an old donkey from his uncle. The donkey, named Arcadia, becomes a source of comfort and companionship for John as he navigates life's challenges. Along the way, John learns valuable lessons about friendship, loyalty, and the importance of living in the present moment.
By Grant Allen · First published 1894 · Genre: Nature Writing, Philosophical Fiction, Pastoral · 1,408 words
First lines
ON the slope by the mountain-ashes, where the ridge curves downward into the combe with the plantation of young larch-trees, I met Peter Rashleigh leading his donkey-_Arcades ambo_. "Jenny looks fat enough, Peter," I said with a nod as I passed on the narrow footpath; "and yet there isn't much grass up here for her to feed upon. " "Lard bless your soul, sir," Peter answered with an expansive smile, "grass ain't what she wants. It don't noways agree with her. She's all the better with bracken and furzen-tops. Furzen-tops is good, like mobled queen. " And I believe he was right, too. Jenny's ancestors from all time have been unaccustomed to rich meadow-feeding, and when their descendants nowadays are turned out into a field of clover they overeat themselves at once, and suffer agonies of mind from the unexpected repletion.
Similar titles
- Fish Out Of Water by Grant Allen
- A Jolly Fellowship by Frank R. Stockton
- The Lazy Tour Of Two Idle Apprentices by Charles Dickens
- A Flight Of Quails by Grant Allen
- Thos J Wall by Ring Lardner
- Romance En Route by Gelett Burgess
Genres
- Nature Writing — The text extensively describes the natural environment, flora, and fauna, focusing on adaptation and survival in specific ecological conditions.
- Philosophical Fiction — The narrative delves into themes of adaptation, survival, and the struggle for existence, reflecting on broader philosophical ideas about life and nature.
- Pastoral — The setting and descriptions of rural life and landscapes align with the characteristics of pastoral literature, emphasizing the simplicity and beauty of the countryside.
- Essay — The writing style and structure resemble an essay, with a focus on argumentation and exploration of ideas related to nature and evolution.
Tags
fiction · novel · humor · satire · adventure · animals · donkeys · rural · nature · friendship · social commentary · character study
What this Textopian page supports
The Arcadian Donkey is listed on Textopian as a short story 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: Short story
- Author: Grant Allen
- Date: 1894 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Nature Writing, Philosophical Fiction, Pastoral, Essay, Literary Fiction
- Length: 1,408 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Arcadian Donkey by Grant Allen
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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