Back Home by Irvin S. Cobb (1928)
The story revolves around a young man who returns to his hometown after being away for many years. He finds that the town has changed significantly and that he no longer fits in with the people and places of his past. The narrative explores themes of identity, belonging, and the complexities of human relationships.
By Irvin S. Cobb · First published 1928 · Genre: Humor, Short Stories, Fiction · 10 chapters · 115,802 words
First lines
WHEN Breck Tandy killed a man he made a number of mistakes. In the first place, he killed the most popular man in Forked Deer County -- the county clerk, a man named Abner J. Rankin. In the second place, he killed him with no witnesses present, so that it stood his word -- and he a newcomer and a stranger -- against the mute, eloquent accusation of a riddled dead man. And in the third place, he sent north of the Ohio River for a lawyer to defend him.
What this Textopian page supports
Back Home is listed on Textopian as a novel by Irvin S. Cobb, dated 1928 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Irvin S. Cobb
- Date: 1928 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Short Stories, Fiction, Satire, American Literature
- Length: 115,802 words
- Structure: 10 chapters, 1,124 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Back Home by Irvin S. Cobb
- 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
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Back Home?
- How does this novel by Irvin S. Cobb fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Humor first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Humor — The book is primarily characterized by its humorous anecdotes and witty observations.
- Short Stories — The narrative is structured as a collection of short stories, each with its own plot and characters.
- Fiction — The work is a fictional account, with imaginative storytelling and character development.
- Satire — The book employs satire to critique and entertain, often using irony and exaggeration.
Tags
American Literature · Novel · Fiction · Short Story Collection · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Regionalism · Kentucky Setting · Coming of Age · Family Dynamics · Small Town Life
Contents
- Words and Music
- The County Trot
- Five Hundred Dollars Reward
- A Judgment Come to Daniel
- Up Clay Street
- When the Fighting was Good
- Stratagem and Spoils
- The Mob from Massac
- A Dogged under Dog
- Black and White