The Weald by Hilaire Belloc (1900)
This work is a collection of essays that explore the history and culture of the Weald region in southern England. It delves into the area's unique geography, its people, and their way of life. The essays cover various aspects, including the region's medieval past, its role in the English Civil War, and the impact of industrialization on the local population.
By Hilaire Belloc · First published 1900 · Genre: Travel Literature, Historical, Geographical · 1,678 words
First lines
Among the changes that have come upon England with the practice and facility for rapid travel many would put first the conquest (some would call it the spoiling) of little-known and isolated stretches of English landscape; and men still point out with a sort of jealous pride those districts, such as the upper Cotswolds, which modern travel has not disturbed. It seems to me that there is another feature attaching to the facility for travel, and that is this, that men can now tell other men what their countrysides are like; men can now compare one part of England with another in a way that once they could not do, and this facility in communication which so many deplore has so much good about it at least, in that it permits right judgments. There have been men in the past who have travelled widely for the mere pleasure of seeing many parts of their own country -- Cobbett was one -- but they were rare.
What this Textopian page supports
The Weald is listed on Textopian as an essay by Hilaire Belloc, dated 1900 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: Hilaire Belloc
- Date: 1900 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Travel Literature, Historical, Geographical, Cultural, Philosophical
- Length: 1,678 words
- Structure: 1 section, 15 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Weald by Hilaire Belloc
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Weald?
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Similar titles
- Among The Quantock Hills by Henry Van Dyke
- Aunt Sues Stories by Langston Hughes
- Looking For Lo by Irvin S. Cobb
- A Crossing Of The Hills by Hilaire Belloc
- The Old Things by Hilaire Belloc
- To Horace Bumstead by James Weldon Johnson
Genres
- Travel Literature — The text explores the impact of travel on the English landscape and the ability to compare different regions.
- Historical — The narrative delves into the historical significance of the Weald and its role in England's past.
- Geographical — The work provides detailed descriptions of the Weald's geography and its natural features.
- Cultural — The text examines the cultural identity and characteristics of the Wealden people.
Tags
Regional Fiction · English Literature · Rural Setting · Coming-of-Age Story · Social Commentary · Satire · Humor · Poetic Prose · Autobiographical Elements · Nostalgia · Childhood Memories · Family Dynamics