The Shrike's Larder by Grant Allen
The Shrike's Larder is a novel by Grant Allen that tells the story of a young woman named Eve who becomes involved in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a mysterious man known only as "the Shrike." As she tries to uncover his true identity, Eve finds herself drawn deeper into a world of intrigue and danger. The novel is set in Victorian England and explores themes of love, betrayal, and the dark side of human nature.
By Grant Allen · First published 1894 · Genre: Nature Writing, Ornithology, Philosophical · 1,126 words
First lines
YES; there is no denying it-this is a shrike's larder! The poor small beasts impaled here must have been hung upon thorns by that cruelest of executioners. The hoard belongs, I think, to a red-backed shrike, whom I have seen more than once flitting through the trees of this copse on the hillside; for the great grey shrike has gone long since-he comes to us only as a winter visitor in the hardest seasons-while woodchats and smaller grey shrike hardly occur at all in this out-of-the-way district. Indeed, the red-backed bird is the only true-born Briton of the entire family; he alone nests and rears his young here regularly. Butcher-birds, the gamekeepers call them, and well they deserve the title; for they catch and spit alive on the thorns of their larder all the bumble-bees and beetles, all the field-mice and robins they can swoop down upon and surprise from their bosky ambush.
What this Textopian page supports
The Shrike's Larder 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, Ornithology, Philosophical, Essay, Literary Nonfiction
- Length: 1,126 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Shrike's Larder 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 Shrike's Larder?
- 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
- The Night Jar by Grant Allen
- The Devils Punchbowl by Grant Allen
- The Hangmans Knot by Arthur Gask
- The Frozen Pond by Grant Allen
- The Silent Dead by Arthur Gask
- The Hidden Door by Author Arthur Gask
Genres
- Nature Writing — The text provides detailed observations and descriptions of the shrike's behavior and its natural environment.
- Ornithology — The focus is on the habits, characteristics, and classification of the shrike, a specific bird species.
- Philosophical — The narrative includes reflections on the nature of cruelty and survival instincts in the animal kingdom.
- Essay — The writing style and structure resemble an essay, with a central theme explored through detailed analysis and personal reflection.
Tags
mystery · thriller · suspense · crime · detective · investigation · psychological · dark · literary · fiction · character-driven · plot-twists