The Duel by Hilaire Belloc (1909)
A young nobleman challenges a man to a duel over a perceived insult. The duel takes place on a frozen lake, and the outcome is predetermined by the conditions of the challenge.
By Hilaire Belloc · First published 1909 · Genre: Comedy, Satire, Historical Fiction · 2,676 words
First lines
In the year 1895 of blessed memory there was living in the town of Paris at the expense of his parents a young English gentleman of the name of Bilbury; at least, if that were not his name his name was so nearly that that it doesn't matter. He spoke French very well, and had for his age (which was twenty-four) a very good working acquaintance with French customs. He was popular among the students with whom he associated, and it was his especial desire not to seem too much of a foreigner on the various occasions when French life contrasts somewhat with that of this island. It was something of a little mania of his, for though he was patriotic to a degree when English history or English habits were challenged, yet it made him intolerably nervous to feel exceptional or eccentric in the town where he lived. It was upon this account that he fought a duel.
What this Textopian page supports
The Duel is listed on Textopian as a short story by Hilaire Belloc, dated 1909 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: 1909 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Comedy, Satire, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction
- Length: 2,676 words
- Structure: 1 section, 28 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Duel by Hilaire Belloc
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Duel?
- How does this short story by Hilaire Belloc fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Comedy first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Comedy — The narrative is infused with humor and satire, particularly in the depiction of the absurdity of the duel and the characters' exaggerated reactions.
- Satire — The story satirizes the customs and social norms of the time, especially the concept of dueling and the behavior of young men in Paris.
- Historical Fiction — Set in 1895 Paris, the story reflects the cultural and social atmosphere of the period, providing a historical backdrop to the comedic events.
- Literary Fiction — The work focuses on character development and social commentary, typical of literary fiction, rather than plot-driven action.
Tags
Historical Fiction · Adventure · Romance · Drama · Literary Classic · 19th Century Setting · French Culture · Social Commentary · Coming of Age · Love Triangle · Family Conflict · Class Struggle