The Barber by Hilaire Belloc (1908)
A young man visits a barber and asks for a shave. The barber agrees but warns him that the razor will be very sharp. As he begins to shave, the young man becomes increasingly anxious about the sharpness of the blade. He eventually flees in terror, leaving his face unshaven.
By Hilaire Belloc · First published 1908 · Genre: Philosophical, Travel, Satire · 2,356 words
First lines
Humanity, my dear little human race, is at once more difficult to get at and more generally present than you seem to know. You are yourselves human beings, dear people. Yet how many have so fully understood their fellows (that is, themselves) that they could exactly say how any man will behave or why any man behaves as he does? But with that I am not to-day concerned. I am concerned with another matter, which is the impossibility of getting away from these brothers of ours, even if we desire to do so.
What this Textopian page supports
The Barber is listed on Textopian as a short story by Hilaire Belloc, 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: Hilaire Belloc
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Philosophical, Travel, Satire, Adventure, Social Commentary
- Length: 2,356 words
- Structure: 1 section, 19 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Barber 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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Genres
- Philosophical — Explores themes of humanity, solitude, and the interconnectedness of people.
- Travel — Describes a journey through mountains and remote villages, emphasizing exploration and discovery.
- Satire — Uses humor and irony to critique human behavior and societal norms.
- Adventure — Narrates an adventurous trek through unfamiliar terrain and encounters with unique characters.
Tags
Satirical · Fiction · Novella · Social Commentary · Humor · Irony · Critique of Society · Class Satire · English Literature · 20th Century Literature · Short Story Collection · Literary Fiction