Long Odds by Harold Bindloss (1906)

Name: Long Odds
Author: Harold Bindloss

The story revolves around a young man who returns to his Canadian home after years abroad and becomes embroiled in the lives of local ranchers and outlaws. He falls for a woman from a rival family, leading to tensions between their families. The narrative explores themes of loyalty, love, and redemption amidst the harsh realities of frontier life.

By Harold Bindloss · First published 1906 · Genre: Adventure, Western, Romance · 32 chapters · 119,764 words

First lines

It was towards the middle of a sweltering afternoon when Commandant Dom Erminio roused himself to wakefulness as he lay in his Madeira chair on the veranda of Fort San Roque, which stands beside a muddy river of Western Africa. As a rule Dom Erminio slept all the afternoon, which was not astonishing, since there was very little else for him to do, and if there had been he would conscientiously have refrained from doing it as long as possible. It is also very probable that any other intelligent white man similarly circumstanced would have been glad to spend part, at least, of the weary day in merciful oblivion. San Roque is one of the hottest places in Africa, which is saying a good deal, and at night a sour white steam, heavy with the exhalations of putrefaction, rises from the muddy river.

What this Textopian page supports

Long Odds is listed on Textopian as a novel by Harold Bindloss, dated 1906 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: Harold Bindloss
Date: 1906 CE
Language: English
Genres: Adventure, Western, Romance, Drama, Historical
Length: 119,764 words
Structure: 32 chapters, 1,849 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

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Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

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How does this novel by Harold Bindloss fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Adventure first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Adventure — The plot centers around exploration and challenges in a rugged environment, typical of adventure narratives.
Western — The setting and themes align with the Western genre, featuring frontier life and the struggles associated with it.
Romance — There are elements of romantic relationships that influence character motivations and plot developments.
Drama — The story includes dramatic personal and interpersonal conflicts that drive the narrative.