An Odd Life by Israel Zangwill
The novel revolves around the life of a young man who lives an unconventional and isolated existence. He has no family ties and his relationships are superficial. His life is marked by loneliness and a sense of disconnection from society. The narrative explores themes of alienation, social isolation, and the human need for connection.
By Israel Zangwill · First published 1894 · Genre: Fantasy, Philosophical Fiction, Satire · 4,783 words
First lines
It was the most curious case of croup I had ever attended. Not that there was anything unusual about the symptoms -- they were so correct as to be devoid of the slightest interest. Certainly they were not worth while being called up for in the middle of the night. The patient it was that attracted my attention. He was a handsome baby of one year and nine months -- by name Willy Streetside -- with such an expression of candour and intelligence that I was moved to see him suffer. I sat down by his bedside, took his poor little feverish hand, and felt the weak quick pulse, and knew it had not much longer to beat. I put the glass of barley and water to his lips, and he drank eagerly. He seemed to be an orphan, in charge of a strange, silent serving-man, apparently the only other occupant of the luxurious and artistically furnished flat.
What this Textopian page supports
An Odd Life is listed on Textopian as a novel by Israel Zangwill, dated 1894 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Israel Zangwill
- Date: 1894 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Philosophical Fiction, Satire, Speculative Fiction, Literary Fiction
- Length: 4,783 words
- Structure: 1 section, 77 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for An Odd Life by Israel Zangwill
- 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 An Odd Life?
- How does this novel by Israel Zangwill fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A Goodly Life by Ivan Bunin
- The Happy Failure by Herman Melville
- Back In The Bosom Repentant And Bloodshot by Dylan Thomas
- Brethren by Ivan Bunin
- Dreams by K. Jerome
- The True Conqueror by John Gould Fletcher
Genres
- Fantasy — The narrative involves a fantastical concept of living life in non-sequential years, which is central to the plot.
- Philosophical Fiction — The story explores deep philosophical themes about life, death, and the nature of existence.
- Satire — The work uses humor and irony to critique societal norms and human nature.
- Speculative Fiction — The story speculates on an alternate way of experiencing life, challenging conventional reality.
Tags
Autobiographical Fiction · Coming-of-Age Story · Family Drama · Jewish Literature · Literary Novel · Melancholic Tone · Memoiristic Elements · Nostalgia · Philosophical Themes · Psychological Insight · Realism · Social Commentary