The Pleasant Place by Hilaire Belloc
This novel is a satirical commentary on the social conventions of the time. It follows the story of a young man who returns to his hometown after years abroad and becomes disillusioned with the narrow-mindedness and hypocrisy of its inhabitants. The narrative explores themes of class, morality, and the constraints placed on individuals by societal expectations.
By Hilaire Belloc · First published 1907 · Genre: Fantasy, Satire, Literary Fiction · 3,990 words
First lines
A gentleman of my acquaintance came to me the other day for sympathy. But first I must describe him: --
He is a man of careful, not neat, dress: I would call it sober rather than neat. He is always clean-shaven and his scanty hair is kept short-cut. He is occupied in letters; he is, to put it bluntly, a litteratoor; none the less he is possessed of scholarship and is a minor authority upon English pottery.
What this Textopian page supports
The Pleasant Place is listed on Textopian as a novel by Hilaire Belloc, dated 1907 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Hilaire Belloc
- Date: 1907 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Satire, Literary Fiction, Adventure, Philosophical Fiction
- Length: 3,990 words
- Structure: 1 section, 71 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Pleasant Place 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 Pleasant Place?
- How does this novel by Hilaire Belloc fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Fantasy — The narrative involves a dream-like journey to an idyllic and fantastical city, complete with utopian elements and surreal experiences.
- Satire — The story uses humor and exaggeration to critique societal norms, particularly the obsession with wealth and material comfort.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style is sophisticated, with a focus on character development and introspective themes.
- Adventure — The protagonist embarks on a journey to a mysterious and enchanting place, encountering new experiences and characters.
Tags
Satirical · Social Commentary · Poetry · Verse · Humor · Wit · Sarcasm · Critique of Society · Class Satire · English Literature · 19th Century Literature · Literary Fiction