Novissima Hora by Hilaire Belloc
The novella follows a young man who returns to his family's ancestral home after many years abroad. He finds the house and its surroundings unchanged, but himself changed by his experiences. The story explores themes of identity, belonging, and the complexities of human relationships.
By Hilaire Belloc · First published 1921 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Philosophical Fiction · 1,627 words
First lines
Time, which is to the mind a function of the mind, stretches and contracts, as all men know, when the mind impelled by forces not its own demands the expansion or the lessening of time. Thus in a moment, as the foolish physicists can prove, long experiences of dreams are held; and thus hours upon hours of other men's lives are lost to us for ever when we lie in profound sleep; and I knew a man who, sleeping through a morning upon the grassy side of a hill many years ago, slept through news that seemed to have ruined him and his, and slept on to a later moment when the news proved false and the threat of disaster was lifted; during those hours of agony there had been for him no time.
What this Textopian page supports
Novissima Hora is listed on Textopian as a short story by Hilaire Belloc, dated 1921 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Hilaire Belloc
- Date: 1921 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Speculative Fiction
- Length: 1,627 words
- Structure: 1 section, 16 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Novissima Hora by Hilaire Belloc
- 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 Novissima Hora?
- How does this short story by Hilaire Belloc 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 narrative centers around a historical figure, Napoleon, and explores his thoughts and experiences, blending historical events with fictional introspection.
- Psychological Fiction — The story delves deeply into the protagonist's mind, exploring his thoughts, memories, and psychological state as he approaches death.
- Philosophical Fiction — The text contemplates themes of time, existence, and the nature of reality, reflecting on profound philosophical questions.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style is rich and descriptive, focusing on character development and thematic depth rather than plot-driven action.
Tags
Catholicism · Faith · Spirituality · Meditation · Reflection · Philosophy · Theology · Christianity · Devotional · Prayer · Contemplation · Mysticism