The Long March by Hilaire Belloc
This work is a historical account of the retreat of the Chinese Red Army from Shanghai to Yenan during the Chinese Civil War. It describes the army's struggles with hunger, disease, and enemy forces, as well as their eventual arrival in Shaanxi Province. The narrative focuses on the human experience of war, highlighting the resilience and determination of the soldiers.
By Hilaire Belloc · First published 1925 · Genre: Military, Historical, Philosophical · 2,370 words
First lines
The French Service, by some superstition of theirs which is probably connected with clear thinking and with decision, have perpetually in mind two things where Infantry is (or are) concerned; these two things are, marching power and carrying weight.
It is their thesis, or rather it is their general opinion, that of all things in which civilised armies may differ the power of trained endurance is the most variable, and that the elements in which this endurance is most usefully manifested are the elements of bearing a weight for long and of marching for long and far between a sleep and a sleep.
What this Textopian page supports
The Long March is listed on Textopian as a historical account by Hilaire Belloc, dated 1925 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Historical account
- Author: Hilaire Belloc
- Date: 1925 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Military, Historical, Philosophical, Travel, Sociopolitical
- Length: 2,370 words
- Structure: 1 section, 23 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Long March by Hilaire Belloc
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Military — The narrative focuses on the endurance, discipline, and philosophy of the French military, particularly the infantry's marching and carrying capabilities.
- Historical — The text references historical events and locations, such as the defeat of Attila and the cannonade of Valmy, providing a historical context to the military narrative.
- Philosophical — The work delves into the philosophical aspects of military strategy and the French mindset, discussing the importance of endurance and the conservative nature of French military thought.
- Travel — The narrative describes a journey through the French countryside, detailing the landscape and the experience of moving from one location to another.
Tags
Historical Fiction · Adventure · Travelogue · Memoir · Non-Fiction · Biographical · Autobiographical · War Literature · Military History · Revolutionary · Social Commentary · Politics