The Faddist by Harry Graham (1922)

This novel is a satirical critique of the social elite and their obsession with material possessions and superficial status symbols. The story revolves around a wealthy family's lavish lifestyle and their attempts to maintain appearances despite their declining fortunes. Through its portrayal of excess, hypocrisy, and moral decay, the novel offers a scathing commentary on the values of the upper class during this period.

By Harry Graham · First published 1922 · Genre: Satire, Poetry, Social Commentary · 690 words

First lines

Gentle Reader, is your bosom filled with loathing / At the mention of the "Simple Life" brigade? / Do you shudder at their Jaeger underclothing, / Which is "fearfully and wonderfully made"? / Though in manner they resemble "poor relations," / Or umbrellas which their owners have forgot, / They contribute to the gaiety of nations, / Do they not?

They are harmless little people, tame and quiet, / Who will feed out of a fellow-creature's hand, / If he happens to provide them with a diet / Of a temperance and vegetable brand. / They can easily subsist -- a thing to brag of -- / In the draughtiest of sanitary huts, / On a "mute inglorious Stilson" and a bag of / Monkey-nuts.

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What this Textopian page supports

The Faddist is listed on Textopian as a novel by Harry Graham, 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: Harry Graham
• Date: 1922 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Satire, Poetry, Social Commentary, Humor
• Length: 690 words
• Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Faddist 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

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Genres

• Satire — The text uses humor and irony to critique the lifestyle and habits of faddists, highlighting their eccentricities and perceived absurdities.
• Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, employing rhyme and meter to convey its themes and narrative.
• Social Commentary — The text provides a commentary on societal trends and the behaviors of those who adopt unconventional lifestyles, reflecting on broader cultural phenomena.
• Humor — The writing style is light-hearted and comedic, aiming to entertain by exaggerating the quirks of the faddist lifestyle.

Tags

Satire · Social Commentary · Dark Humor · Absurdism · Anti-Hero · Critique of Society · Fiction · Novel · Literary Fiction · Comedy of Manners · Irony · Sarcasm

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