The Hunter by Hilaire Belloc (1906)
The story revolves around a hunter who is on the verge of capturing his prey when he suddenly stops and reflects on the nature of hunting and the relationship between the hunter and the hunted. He realizes that the thrill of the hunt lies not in the capture, but in the pursuit itself, and that the true beauty of nature lies in its wildness and freedom.
By Hilaire Belloc · First published 1906 · Genre: Satire, Adventure, Travel · 2,805 words
First lines
One day I had occasion to travel, at the expense of a fund more or less public, and certainly collective, in a railway train of which the carriages were _wagons-de-luxe_. It was by its description a train for the Very Rich, yet few of that numerous class were travelling in it, for it was going in the depth of winter from one of the most desolate highlands of Europe to another of Europe's most offensive deserts. I had business with one and the other.
What this Textopian page supports
The Hunter is listed on Textopian as a short story by Hilaire Belloc, dated 1906 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: 1906 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Adventure, Travel, Humor, Fiction
- Length: 2,805 words
- Structure: 1 section, 40 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Hunter by Hilaire Belloc
- 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
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Hunter?
- How does this short story by Hilaire Belloc fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- In The Fog by Richard Harding Davis
- Fox Hunt Yarn by James Mcintyre
- Quod Erat Demonstrandum by Guy Boothby
- The Divided Delegation by Ambrose Bierce
- The Courts Of The Morning by John Buchan
- The Lemnian by John Buchan
Genres
- Satire — The narrative employs humor and irony to critique societal norms and human behavior, particularly through the exaggerated and absurd interactions between characters.
- Adventure — The story involves a journey and an encounter with a dangerous animal, typical elements of adventure fiction, though presented in a satirical manner.
- Travel — The setting involves a train journey across Europe, and the narrative includes descriptions of travel and encounters with different cultures.
- Humor — The writing style is characterized by wit and comedic elements, especially in the dialogue and the protagonist's reflections.
Tags
Fiction · Novel · Adventure · Thriller · Mystery · Detective · Crime · Suspense · Action · Plot Twist · Unreliable Narrator · Psychological Thriller