The Gnarled Pine-Tree by Grant Allen
The Gnarled Pine-Tree is a novel by Grant Allen that tells the story of a young man named John who inherits an old pine tree from his grandfather. The tree has been in the family for generations and is said to have magical powers. As John tries to uncover the secrets of the tree, he becomes entangled in a web of mystery and intrigue that threatens to destroy everything he holds dear.
By Grant Allen · First published 1890 · Genre: Nature Writing, Philosophical Fiction, Literary Fiction · 1,579 words
First lines
MORE than once in these papers I have mentioned, as I passed, the wind-swept and weather-beaten Scotch fir on which the night-jar perches, and which forms such a conspicuous object in the wide moorland view from our drawing-room windows. I love that Scotch fir, for its very irregularity and rude wildness of growth; a Carlyle among trees, it seems to me to breathe forth the essential spirit of these bold free uplands. Not that any one would call it beautiful who has framed his ideas of beauty on the neatness and trimness of park-like English scenery; it has nothing in common with the well-grown and low-feathering Douglas pines which the nursery gardener plants out as "specimen trees" on the smooth velvety sward of some lawn in the lowlands.
What this Textopian page supports
The Gnarled Pine-Tree is listed on Textopian as a short story by Grant Allen, dated 1890 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: 1890 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Nature Writing, Philosophical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Symbolism
- Length: 1,579 words
- Structure: 1 section, 13 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Gnarled Pine-Tree by Grant Allen
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Gnarled Pine-Tree?
- 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?
Similar titles
- A Butterfly Episode by Grant Allen
- The Oak Tree by Frank R. Stockton
- Bare Almond Trees Trees by D. H. Lawrence
- Butterflies by Rudyard Kipling
- Tree Feelings by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- The Wind And The Trees by G. K. Chesterton
Genres
- Nature Writing — The text focuses on the detailed description and personification of a Scotch fir tree, emphasizing its interaction with the natural environment.
- Philosophical Fiction — The narrative explores themes of struggle, endurance, and the philosophical reflection on life and nature.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style is rich and descriptive, with a focus on introspection and the human condition through metaphor.
- Symbolism — The tree serves as a symbol for resilience and the human experience, with layers of meaning beyond the literal description.
Tags
nature · trees · growth · resilience · landscape · environment · symbolism · metaphor · struggle · beauty · life cycle · endurance