Paths of Glory by Irvin S. Cobb
The novel is set during World War I and follows the story of a French army commander who is ordered to lead his troops on a suicidal attack against a heavily fortified German position. The commander refuses to carry out the order, citing the futility of the mission and the high likelihood of heavy casualties. As a result, he is court-martialed and sentenced to death for cowardice in the face of the enemy. The novel explores themes of military bureaucracy, the dehumanizing effects of war, and the moral complexities of leadership during times of conflict. The story is told through the eyes of a young officer who serves under the commander and grapples with his own sense of duty and morality as he witnesses the events unfold.
By Irvin S. Cobb · First published 1935 · Genre: War, Historical Fiction, Drama · 16 chapters · 128,899 words
First lines
We passed through it late in the afternoon -- this little Belgian town called Montignies St. Christophe -- just twenty-four hours behind a dust- colored German column. I am going to try now to tell how it looked to us.
I am inclined to think I passed this way a year before, or a little less, though I cannot be quite certain as to that. Traveling 'cross country, the country is likely to look different from the way it looked when you viewed it from the window of a railroad carriage.
What this Textopian page supports
Paths of Glory is listed on Textopian as a novel by Irvin S. Cobb, dated 1935 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: 1935 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: War, Historical Fiction, Drama, Adventure, Literary Fiction
- Length: 128,899 words
- Structure: 16 chapters, 1,017 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Paths of Glory 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 Paths of Glory?
- How does this novel by Irvin S. Cobb fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does War first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- War — The book primarily deals with themes of military conflict and the experiences of soldiers during wartime.
- Historical Fiction — The narrative is set against the backdrop of a specific historical period, providing a fictionalized account of real events.
- Drama — The story explores intense emotional and moral conflicts faced by the characters, often highlighting personal struggles.
- Adventure — The plot includes elements of risk and exploration, focusing on the characters' journeys and challenges.
Tags
War Fiction · Historical Drama · World War I · Novel · Classic Literature · Anti-War · Satire · Social Commentary · Military Life · Soldier's Experience · Trench Warfare · Futility of War
Contents
- A Little Village Called Montignies St. Christophe
- To War in a Taxicab
- Sherman Said It
- "Marsch, Marsch, Marsch, so Geh'N Wir Weiter!"
- Being a Guest of the Kaiser
- With the German Wrecking Crew
- The Grapes of Wrath
- Three Generals and a Cook
- Viewing a Battle from a Balloon
- In the Trenches before Rheims
- War De Luxe
- The Rut of Big Guns in France
- Those Yellow Pine Boxes
- The Red Glutton
- Belgium -- the Rag Doll of Europe
- Louvain the Forsaken