Local Color by Irvin S. Cobb (1916)

Name: Local Color
Author: Irvin S. Cobb

The story revolves around a young man who returns to his hometown after years away and becomes embroiled in the local politics of the community. He finds himself at odds with the town's corrupt leaders and must navigate the complex web of relationships and alliances that exist within the community. Through his experiences, he comes to understand the true nature of the town and its people, and ultimately decides whether or not to stay and fight for change.

By Irvin S. Cobb · First published 1916 · Genre: Humor, Short Stories, Satire · 10 chapters · 149,153 words

First lines

Felix Looms, the well-known author, disappeared -- or, rather, he went away -- on or about June fifteenth, four years ago. He told his friends, his landlady and his publisher -- he had no immediate family -- he felt run down and debilitated and he meant to go away for a good long stay. He might try the Orient; then again perhaps he would go to the South Seas. When he came back, which might be in a year or two years or even three, he expected to bring with him the material for a longer and better book than any he had written. Meantime he wanted to cut loose, as he put it, from everything. He intended, he said, to write no letters while he was gone and he expected to receive none.

What this Textopian page supports

Local Color is listed on Textopian as a novel by Irvin S. Cobb, dated 1916 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: 1916 CE
Language: English
Genres: Humor, Short Stories, Satire, Regional Fiction, American Literature
Length: 149,153 words
Structure: 10 chapters, 1,699 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Local Color 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 Local Color?
How does this novel by Irvin S. Cobb fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Humor first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Humor — The book primarily uses humor to explore and depict the cultural and social aspects of the American South.
Short Stories — The book is a collection of short stories, each with its own narrative and characters.
Satire — The stories often employ satire to critique societal norms and behaviors.
Regional Fiction — The book focuses on the specific cultural and social characteristics of a particular region, the American South.