Vagaries of a Viscount
The novel revolves around the life of a young aristocrat who struggles with his own identity and sense of purpose amidst the societal expectations placed upon him by his family's title and wealth. As he navigates his relationships with those around him, including a woman from a lower social class, he begins to question the values and conventions that have been instilled in him. Through his experiences, the novel explores themes of class, morality, and personal freedom, raising questions about the nature of identity and the responsibilities that come with privilege.
By Israel Zangwill · First published 1908 · Genre: Comedy, Mystery, Satire · 2,752 words
First lines
That every man has a romance in his life has always been a pet theory of mine, so I was not surprised to find the immaculate Dorking smoking a clay pipe in Cable Street (late Ratcliff Highway) at half-past eight of a winter's morning. Nor was I surprised to find myself there, because, as a romancer, I have a poetic license to go anywhere and see everything. Viscount Dorking had just come out of an old clo' shop, and was got up like a sailor. Under his arm was a bundle. He lurched against me without recognising me, for I, too, was masquerading in my shabbiest and roughest attire, and the morning was bleak and foggy, the round red sun flaming in the forehead of the morning sky like the eye of a cyclop. But there could be no doubt it was Dorking -- even if I had not been acquainted with the sedate Viscount (that paradox of the peerage, whose treatises on pure mathematics were the joy of Senior Wranglers) I should have suspected something shady from the whiteness of my sailor's hands.
What this Textopian page supports
Vagaries of a Viscount is listed on Textopian as a short story by Israel Zangwill, 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: Israel Zangwill
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Comedy, Mystery, Satire, Adventure, Drama
- Length: 2,752 words
- Structure: 1 section, 31 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Vagaries of a Viscount by Israel Zangwill
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- In The Express by Ludovic Halevy
- Mr Hearty Yields by Herbert Jenkins
- Holy Wedlock by Israel Zangwill
- The Conscious Lovers by Richard Steele
- Cope Is Entertained by Henry Blake Fuller
- Mated By A Waiter by Israel Zangwill
Genres
- Comedy — The narrative is filled with humorous situations and misunderstandings, particularly involving the protagonist's attempts to deceive a detective agency.
- Mystery — The plot revolves around a series of enigmatic events and the protagonist's efforts to uncover the truth behind them.
- Satire — The story satirizes societal norms and the eccentricities of the upper class, particularly through the protagonist's actions.
- Adventure — The protagonist embarks on a series of adventurous escapades across various locations, adding an element of excitement.
Tags
Social Satire · Comedy of Manners · Victorian Era Fiction · English Literature · Novel · Romance · Class Conflict · Upper Class Life · Marriage · Love Triangle · Family Dynamics · Society Critique