The Marriage of Mr. Jarvis
A wealthy businessman marries a young woman from a lower social class, but their union is threatened when his business partner's daughter appears on the scene and begins to manipulate him. The wife becomes increasingly isolated and desperate as her husband's attention shifts towards the newcomer.
By J.S. Fletcher · First published 1901 · Genre: Comedy, Romance, Drama · 5,389 words
First lines
When the lift-boy came down to the ground-floor again and threw open the door of the cage in which he spent so many mechanical hours every day, he became aware that the entrance hall was just then given up to a solitary female who was anxiously scanning the various names which appeared on the boards set up on either side. He gathered a general impression of rusticity, but, sharp as he was, would have found himself hard put to it to define it -- the lady's bonnet was not appreciably different from the bonnets worn by respectable, middle-class, town ladies; the lady's umbrella was not carried at an awkward angle. Nevertheless he was quite certain that if the lady was going aloft to anywhere between there and the sixth floor she was about to step into an elevator for the first time.
What this Textopian page supports
The Marriage of Mr. Jarvis is listed on Textopian as a novella by J.S. Fletcher, dated 1901 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: J.S. Fletcher
- Date: 1901 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Comedy, Romance, Drama, Satire, Mystery
- Length: 5,389 words
- Structure: 1 section, 99 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Marriage of Mr. Jarvis by J.S. Fletcher
- 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 The Marriage of Mr. Jarvis?
- How does this novella by J.S. Fletcher fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Comedy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Comedy — The narrative is driven by humorous situations and character interactions, particularly involving misunderstandings and schemes.
- Romance — The plot centers around marriage and romantic entanglements, with a focus on matchmaking and relationships.
- Drama — The story involves family dynamics, personal motives, and emotional conflicts, adding depth to the characters' interactions.
- Satire — The work critiques societal norms and expectations regarding marriage and social status through exaggerated characters and situations.
Tags
Mystery · Thriller · Crime Fiction · Detective Story · English Literature · Classic Novel · Victorian Era · Social Commentary · Marriage Drama · Family Secrets · Hidden Past · Deception