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: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
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
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Marsh Tackies?
- How does this novel by Hervey Allen fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
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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