Despair by Hervey Allen (1932)
The novel explores the decline of a wealthy and influential family through multiple generations, tracing their descent into moral decay and eventual collapse. It begins with the patriarch's rise to power and wealth, but gradually reveals his flaws and weaknesses, including his treatment of women and his ruthless pursuit of business interests. As the story progresses, it shifts focus to the next generation, where the family's values and morals continue to deteriorate, leading to a series of tragic events that ultimately seal their fate. Throughout the novel, themes of greed, ambition, and the corrupting influence of power are explored in detail, providing a scathing critique of the social elite.
By Hervey Allen · First published 1932 · Genre: Poetry, Existential, Gothic · 354 words
First lines
You who made me With first ecstasy When I was sown, And lovely things at night I will not write And burdened moan, While veiny labyrinths with mystery ran Till time and blood were life And I began -- By holier things than God, Or any other shibboleth of man, Dead woman wan, By the thin, silver scream that winter morn In the dim, shuttered room where I was born, Be gone!
Haunt me no more, Shroud Trailer, Go to bed.
What this Textopian page supports
Despair is listed on Textopian as a novel by Hervey Allen, dated 1932 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Hervey Allen
- Date: 1932 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Existential, Gothic, Psychological, Modernist
- Length: 354 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Despair by Hervey Allen
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Despair?
- How does this novel by Hervey Allen fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, utilizing poetic devices such as rhyme, meter, and imagery.
- Existential — Themes of despair, identity, and existential questioning are prevalent throughout the text.
- Gothic — The presence of haunting imagery, death, and a somber tone aligns with Gothic literature characteristics.
- Psychological — The exploration of the narrator's internal conflict and emotional turmoil suggests a psychological focus.
Tags
Historical Fiction · War Novel · American Literature · Classic Novel · Literary Fiction · Philosophical Themes · Existentialism · Psychological Insight · Character Study · Coming of Age · World War I · Trench Warfare