The Cater-Cornered Sex
This novel is a satirical exploration of American society during the late 19th century. It follows the story of a young woman who becomes embroiled in a series of absurd and humorous misadventures after she is mistakenly identified as a courtesan. The narrative critiques societal norms, particularly those related to class and morality, through its portrayal of the protagonist's experiences.
By Irvin S. Cobb · First published 1908 · Genre: Humor, Short Stories, Social Commentary · 16,490 words
First lines
They had a saying down our way in the old days that Judge Priest administered law inside his courthouse and justice outside of it. Perhaps they were right. Certainly he had a way of seeking short cuts through thickets of legal verbiage to the rights of things, the which often gave acute sorrow to the souls of those members of the bar who venerated the very ink in which the statutory act had been printed and worshiped manfully before the graven images of precedent. But elsewise, generally speaking, it appeared to give satisfaction. Nobody ever beat the judge in any of his races for reelection, and after a while they just naturally quit trying.
What this Textopian page supports
The Cater-Cornered Sex is listed on Textopian as a short story by Irvin S. Cobb, dated 1908 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Irvin S. Cobb
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Short Stories, Social Commentary, American Literature
- Length: 16,490 words
- Structure: 1 section, 132 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Cater-Cornered Sex 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
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Cater-Cornered Sex?
- How does this short story by Irvin S. Cobb fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Humor first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- A Righteous Outburst by O. Henry
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- A Personal Insult by O. Henry
Genres
- Humor — The book primarily uses comedic elements and satire to explore its themes.
- Short Stories — The structure of the book is composed of multiple short stories.
- Social Commentary — The narrative provides insights and critiques on societal norms and behaviors.
- American Literature — The writing style and themes are characteristic of early 20th-century American literature.
Tags
Satire · Social Commentary · Humor · Literary Fiction · American Literature · 20th Century Literature · Novel · Comedy of Manners · Sexual Politics · Marriage · Family Dynamics · Class Satire