The Devil's Punchbowl by Grant Allen
The Devil's Punchbowl is a novel by Grant Allen that tells the story of a group of people who are trapped in a remote valley after an earthquake. The characters must band together to survive and overcome their differences, while also dealing with the threat of a mysterious creature lurking in the shadows.
By Grant Allen · First published 1896 · Genre: Nature Writing, Fiction, Adventure · 1,453 words
First lines
ON Sunday the boys came home for their half-term holiday, so we strolled in the morning into the Devil's Punchbowl. That is the name of the basin-shaped valley that lies behind the house-a deep circular glen, scooped out in a softer portion of the sandstone mass that forms the moor by rain and denudation. Thor owned it, I doubt not, long before it was claimed by its present possessor, for the parish is Thursley; and some Celtic god, whose name is only known to Professor Rhys, may have used it as his drinking-cup long before the Norseman brought his Thor, or the Saxon his Thunor, into the Surrey uplands. But the devil is now the heir-general and residuary legatee of all heathen gods deceased, be they late or early; he has come into titular ownership of their entire property. A steep path leads zigzag down the side of the escarpment into the bowl-shaped hollow; at its bottom a tiny stream oozes out in a spring as limpid as Bandusia.
What this Textopian page supports
The Devil's Punchbowl is listed on Textopian as a short story by Grant Allen, dated 1896 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: 1896 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Nature Writing, Fiction, Adventure, Historical, Humor
- Length: 1,453 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Devil's Punchbowl 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 The Devil's Punchbowl?
- How does this short story by Grant Allen fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Nature Writing first become important in the reading?
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- The Hidden Door by Author Arthur Gask
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- Fin Tireur by Robert Hichens
- The Nether Millstone by Fred M. White
Genres
- Nature Writing — The detailed descriptions of the natural environment, including the Devil's Punchbowl and its ecosystem, are central to the narrative.
- Fiction — The narrative is a fictional account, focusing on characters and events that are not real.
- Adventure — The exploration of the Devil's Punchbowl and the activities like tickling trout provide a sense of adventure.
- Historical — References to historical and mythological elements, such as Norse gods and local history, are woven into the story.
Tags
mystery · thriller · suspense · crime · detective · investigation · murder · secrets · dark · psychological · plot twist · suspenseful