The Life of the Party

Name: The Life of the Party
Author: Irvin S. Cobb

This novel is a satirical comedy that follows the life of a young man who becomes embroiled in a series of misadventures after he inherits a large sum of money from a distant relative. The story explores themes of wealth, class, and social status as the protagonist navigates his new circumstances with varying degrees of success.

By Irvin S. Cobb · First published 1926 · Genre: Humor, Short Stories, Satire · 14 chapters · 21,212 words

First lines

It had been a successful party, most successful. Mrs. Carroway's parties always were successes, but this one nearing its conclusion stood out notably from a long and unbroken Carrowayian record. It had been a children's party; that is to say, everybody came in costume with intent to represent children of any age between one year and a dozen years. But twelve years was the limit; positively nobody, either in dress or deportment, could be more than twelve years old. Mrs. Carroway had made this point explicit in sending out the invitations, and so it had been, down to the last hair ribbon and the last shoe buckle. And between dances they had played at the games of childhood, such as drop the handkerchief, and King William was King James' son and prisoner's base and the rest of them.

What this Textopian page supports

The Life of the Party is listed on Textopian as a novel by Irvin S. Cobb, dated 1926 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: 1926 CE
Language: English
Genres: Humor, Short Stories, Satire, Fiction, American Literature
Length: 21,212 words
Structure: 14 chapters, 286 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The Life of the Party by Irvin S. Cobb
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering The Life of the Party?
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 is primarily a collection of humorous stories and anecdotes, showcasing the author's wit and comedic style.
Short Stories — The structure of the book is a compilation of short stories, each with its own narrative and characters.
Satire — The stories often employ satire to critique social norms and human behavior.
Fiction — The book is a work of fiction, with imaginative storytelling and character development.