A Question of Personality
The novel revolves around the life of a young man who returns to England after serving in the Boer War and struggles with his identity and sense of purpose. He becomes embroiled in a world of high-stakes poker games, where he must confront his own morality and the consequences of his actions.
By H.C. McNeile · First published 1922 · Genre: Drama, Romance, Industrial Fiction · 3 chapters · 9,727 words
First lines
The personally conducted tour round Frenton's Steel Works paused, as usual, on reaching the show piece of the entertainment. The mighty hammer, operated with such consummate ease by the movement of a single lever, though smaller than its more celebrated brother at Woolwich Arsenal, never failed to get a round of applause from the fascinated onlookers. There was something almost frightening about the deadly precision with which it worked, and the uncanny accuracy of the man who controlled it. This time it would crash downwards delivering a blow which shook the ground: next time it would repeat the performance, only to stop just as the spectators were bracing themselves for the shock -- stop with such mathematical exactitude that the glass of a watch beneath it would be cracked but the works would not be damaged.
What this Textopian page supports
A Question of Personality is listed on Textopian as a novel by H.C. McNeile, dated 1922 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: H.C. McNeile
- Date: 1922 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Drama, Romance, Industrial Fiction, Social Commentary, Mystery
- Length: 9,727 words
- Structure: 3 chapters, 164 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Question of Personality by H.C. McNeile
- 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 A Question of Personality?
- How does this novel by H.C. McNeile fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Drama first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Man In Ratcatcher by H. C. Mcneile
- The Real Test by H. C. Mcneile
- A Payment On Account by H. C. Mcneile
- The Man With His Hand In His Pocket by H. C. Mcneile
- Bull Dog Drummond by H. C. Mcneile
- The Tremendous Event by Maurice Leblanc
Genres
- Drama — The narrative focuses on personal and familial conflicts, emotional struggles, and character development.
- Romance — Central to the plot is the romantic relationship between Marjorie and Herbert, and its complications.
- Industrial Fiction — The setting and plot revolve around the steel works, highlighting industrial themes and labor relations.
- Social Commentary — The story critiques social class distinctions and labor issues, reflecting on employer-employee dynamics.
Tags
Adventure · Action · Thriller · Mystery · Crime · Detective Fiction · British Literature · Early 20th Century · Classic Novel · Pulp Fiction · Hard-Boiled Detective · Private Investigator