Marsh Tackies by Hervey Allen (1933)
The novel is a historical fiction account of the American Civil War and Reconstruction era. It follows the lives of several characters, including a young Confederate soldier who becomes embroiled in the conflict. The story explores themes of loyalty, duty, and the complexities of war.
By Hervey Allen · First published 1933 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Poetry, Adventure · 441 words
First lines
Browsing on the salty marsh grass, / Barrel-ribbed and blowsy-bellied, / With a neigh as shrill as whistles / And their mouths red-raw from thistles, / I have seen the brown _marsh tackies_, / Hiding in the swamps at Kiawah, / With the gray mosquito patches / Gory on their shaggy thatches.
Balky, vicious, and degenerates, / They are small as Spanish jennets, / But their sires were with El Tarab, / When he conquered Andalusia / For the Prophet and the Arab; / And they came with Ponce de Leon, / When the Spaniard made a _peon_ / And a Christian of the Carib.
What this Textopian page supports
Marsh Tackies is listed on Textopian as a novel by Hervey Allen, dated 1933 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: 1933 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Poetry, Adventure, Nature Writing, Animal Fiction
- Length: 441 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Marsh Tackies by Hervey Allen
- 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
Similar titles
- Middleton Garden by Hervey Allen
- The Paddle Wheel Boat by James Baldwin
- Hands Off by Hervey Allen
- Aftermath by Hervey Allen
- The Sewees Of Sewee Bay by Hervey Allen
- Palmetto Town by Hervey Allen
Genres
- Historical Fiction — The poem references historical figures and events, such as El Tarab, Ponce de Leon, and De Soto, integrating them into the narrative of the marsh tackies.
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, utilizing rhyme and meter to convey its themes and imagery.
- Adventure — The narrative includes elements of exploration and conquest, depicting the journeys and struggles of the horses and their masters.
- Nature Writing — The poem vividly describes the natural environment of the marshes and the horses' interaction with it.
Tags
Historical Fiction · Southern Literature · Coming-of-Age Story · Family Saga · Social Commentary · Racial Tensions · Class Conflict · American South · Plantation Life · Slavery · Reconstruction Era · Post-Civil War