The Colonel by Harry Graham (1907)

The story revolves around a middle-aged man who has been married for over 20 years and has two children. He feels unfulfilled and restless, leading to an affair with a younger woman. The Colonel's marriage becomes strained due to his infidelity, causing tension between him and his wife.

By Harry Graham · First published 1907 · Genre: Satire, Humor, Poetry · 648 words

First lines

Observe him, in the best armchair, At ev'ry "Service" Club reclining! How brightly through its close-cropped hair! His polished skull is shining! His form, inert and comatose, Suggests a stertorous repose.

What strains are these that echo clear? What music on our ears is falling? Through his AEolian nose we hear The distant East a-calling. (A good example here is found Of slumber that is truly "sound. ")

What this Textopian page supports

The Colonel is listed on Textopian as a novel by Harry Graham, dated 1907 CE.

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

• Work type: Novel
• Author: Harry Graham
• Date: 1907 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Satire, Humor, Poetry, Character Study, Social Commentary
• Length: 648 words
• Structure: 1 section, 12 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Colonel by Harry Graham
• 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 Colonel?
• How does this novel by Harry Graham fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Satire first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

• The Waiter by Harry Graham
• The Faddist by Harry Graham
• The Fall Of J W Beane by Oliver Herford
• The Strategist by Hector Hugh Munro
• Ministers Of Grace by Hector Hugh Munro
• Adam by Harry Graham

Genres

• Satire — The poem uses humor and irony to critique and mock the stereotypical image of a retired military colonel.
• Humor — The writing style is light-hearted and comedic, focusing on the absurdities and peculiarities of the colonel's character.
• Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, utilizing rhyme and meter to convey its narrative and themes.
• Character Study — The poem provides a detailed and exaggerated portrayal of a single character, exploring his traits and behaviors.

Tags

Satire · Dark Humor · Absurdism · Social Commentary · Critique of Authority · Anti-Hero · Black Comedy · Farce · Picaresque · Autobiographical Fiction · Memoir · Biographical Fiction

More by Harry Graham

• More Misrepresentative Men (1905)
• What's in a Name? (1927)
• Nobody's Darling! (Rhymes for the Times) (1902)
• Roses all the Way (Rhymes for the Times) (1925)
• The Triumph of Jam (Rhymes for the Times) (1902)
• Egregious Eastbourne (Rhymes for the Times) (1907)
• Sarah Owen (Rhymes for the Times) (1902)
• The Last Horsed 'Bus (Rhymes for the Times) (1925)
• All works by Harry Graham