The Reveillon by Hilaire Belloc
This work is a collection of short stories that explore the complexities of human relationships and the consequences of one's actions. The narrative revolves around a group of characters who gather for a festive meal, known as the Reveillon, where they engage in conversations that reveal their true selves and the underlying tensions within their relationships.
By Hilaire Belloc · First published 1909 · Genre: Supernatural, Psychological Fiction, Horror · 1,702 words
First lines
There was in the regiment with which I served a man called Frocot, / famous with his comrades because he had seen The Dead, for this / experience, though common among the Scotch, is rare among the French, a / sister nation. This man Frocot could neither write nor read, and was / also the strongest man I ever knew. He was quite short and exceedingly / broad, and he could break a penny with his hands, but this gift of / strength, though young men value it so much, was thought little of / compared with his perception of unseen things, for though the men, who / were peasants, professed to laugh at it, and him, in their hearts they / profoundly believed. It had been made clear to us that he could see and / hear The Dead one night in January during a snowstorm, when he came in / and woke me in barrack-room because he had heard the Loose Spur. Our / spurs were not buckled on like the officers'; they were fixed into the / heel of the boot, and if a nail loosened upon either side the spur / dragged with an unmistakable noise. There was a sergeant who (for some / reason) had one so loosened on the last night he had ever gone the / rounds before his death, for in the morning as he came off guard he / killed himself, and the story went about among the drivers that / sometimes on stable guard in the thick of the night, when you watched / all alone by the lantern (with your three comrades asleep in the straw / of an empty stall), your blood would stop and your skin tauten at the / sound of a loose spur dragging on the far side of the stable, in the / dark.
What this Textopian page supports
The Reveillon 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: Supernatural, Psychological Fiction, Horror, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction
- Length: 1,702 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Reveillon 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
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Genres
- Supernatural — The narrative centers around the protagonist's ability to perceive the dead and supernatural occurrences, which is a key element of the plot.
- Psychological Fiction — The story delves into the protagonist's mental state, exploring themes of fear, despair, and the impact of supernatural experiences on his psyche.
- Horror — The atmosphere is filled with dread and terror, particularly through the protagonist's encounters with the supernatural and the eerie setting.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style and thematic depth, including existential and spiritual reflections, align with the characteristics of literary fiction.
Tags
Fiction · Novel · Satire · Social Commentary · French Culture · 19th Century Setting · Upper Class Life · Marriage · Family Dynamics · Morality · Ethics · Philosophy