The Yarkand Manner
This work is a satirical short story that critiques the British colonial presence in India during the late 19th century. The narrative follows a group of British officers stationed in Yarkand who engage in decadent and morally bankrupt behavior, exemplifying the decay of imperial values. Through this portrayal, the text highlights the hypocrisy and corruption inherent to colonial rule.
By Hector Hugh Munro · First published 1908 · Genre: Satire, Comedy, Adventure · 1,966 words
First lines
Sir Lulworth Quayne was making a leisurely progress through the Zoological Society's Gardens in company with his nephew, recently returned from Mexico. The latter was interested in comparing and contrasting allied types of animals occurring in the North American and Old World fauna.
"One of the most remarkable things in the wanderings of species," he observed, "is the sudden impulse to trek and migrate that breaks out now and again, for no apparent reason, in communities of hitherto stay-at-home animals."
What this Textopian page supports
The Yarkand Manner is listed on Textopian as a short story by Hector Hugh Munro, dated 1908 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Hector Hugh Munro
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Comedy, Adventure, Social Commentary, Fiction
- Length: 1,966 words
- Structure: 1 section, 25 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Yarkand Manner by Hector Hugh Munro
- 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 Yarkand Manner?
- How does this short story by Hector Hugh Munro fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Cousin Teresa by Hector Hugh Munro
- Adrian A In Acclimatization by Hector Hugh Munro
- The Background by Hector Hugh Munro
- The Cynic by O. Henry
- A Touch Of Realism by Hector Hugh Munro
- A Defensive Diamond by Hector Hugh Munro
Genres
- Satire — The story uses humor and irony to critique the absurdities of journalism and societal behaviors.
- Comedy — The narrative is filled with humorous situations and witty dialogue, particularly in the depiction of the newspaper staff's misadventures.
- Adventure — The plot involves a journey to Eastern Turkestan and the unexpected capture by brigands, adding an adventurous element.
- Social Commentary — The story comments on the nature of media, public perception, and the influence of journalism on society.
Tags
Satire · Dark Humor · Social Commentary · British Literature · Edwardian Era · Short Story Collection · Anti-Hero · Morality Tale · Critique of Society · Absurdity · Black Comedy · Cynicism