The New Road by Hilaire Belloc
The story revolves around a young boy who lives with his family on the outskirts of a small town. He becomes fascinated with the idea of building a new road that will connect their home to the rest of the world, believing it will bring prosperity and progress. As he begins to work on the project, he faces numerous challenges, including skepticism from the townspeople, harsh weather conditions, and his own doubts about the feasibility of the endeavor. Despite these obstacles, the boy remains determined to see his vision through. The narrative explores themes of perseverance, innovation, and the human desire for connection and progress.
By Hilaire Belloc · First published 1909 · Genre: Travel, History, Non-fiction · 1,963 words
First lines
It is at once the most amusing and the most dramatic feature of our time that we can foresee -- for some few years ahead -- material things. Things moral escape us altogether. Never was there a generation of Europeans who could less determine what the near future held for the fate of national characters, of religions, or of styles in art; the more foolish attempt to escape this ignorance by pretending that things moral depend upon things material. They observe the cutting of a canal and prophesy the decline of one nation upon its completion, the growth of another -- as though the power of nations armed resided in something lower than the Mind, and as though the success of armies (upon which all at last depends) were determined by the exchange of metals or by new routes of trade.
What this Textopian page supports
The New Road 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: Travel, History, Non-fiction, Cultural Commentary, Philosophy
- Length: 1,963 words
- Structure: 1 section, 13 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The New Road 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
- Travel — The narrative focuses on the restoration and significance of historical roads and travel routes in Europe.
- History — The text delves into the historical context of European roads, their use by armies, and their impact on civilizations.
- Non-fiction — The work presents factual information and analysis about European infrastructure and its evolution.
- Cultural Commentary — The book reflects on the cultural and societal implications of infrastructure development and historical changes.
Tags
Fiction · Novel · Satire · Social Commentary · English Literature · 20th Century Literature · Humor · Wit · Sarcasm · Critique of Society · Class Satire · Economic Satire