The Half-Hearted by John Buchan

Name: The Half-Hearted
Author: John Buchan

The novel revolves around the life of a young Scottish aristocrat who returns to his family's estate after serving in World War I. He struggles with feelings of inadequacy and disillusionment, particularly regarding his own lack of courage during the war. As he navigates his relationships with his family and friends, he becomes increasingly aware of the societal expectations placed upon him as a member of the upper class. This tension between his personal desires and the demands of his social status leads to a crisis of identity. Throughout the novel, themes of masculinity, morality, and the human cost of war are explored in depth. The protagonist's inner turmoil serves as a commentary on the societal changes brought about by World War I and the challenges faced by those returning from combat.

By John Buchan · First published 1900 · Genre: Adventure, Thriller, Historical Fiction · 32 chapters · 107,840 words

First lines

From the heart of a great hill land Glenavelin stretches west and south to the wider Gled valley, where its stream joins with the greater water in its seaward course. Its head is far inland in a place of mountain solitudes, but its mouth is all but on the lip of the sea, and salt breezes fight with the flying winds of the hills. It is a land of green meadows on the brink of heather, of far-stretching fir woods that climb to the edge of the uplands and sink to the fringe of corn. Nowhere is there any march between art and nature, for the place is in the main for sheep, and the single road which threads the glen is little troubled with cart and crop-laden wagon. Midway there is a stretch of wood and garden around the House of Glenavelin, the one great dwelling-place in the vale. But it is a dwelling and a little more, for the home of the real lords of the land is many miles farther up the stream, in the moorland house of Etterick, where the Avelin is a burn, and the hills hang sharply over its source. To a stranger in an afternoon it seems a very vale of content, basking in sun and shadow, green, deep, and silent. But it is also a place of storms, for its name means the "glen of white waters," and mist and snow are commoner in its confines than summer heats.

What this Textopian page supports

The Half-Hearted is listed on Textopian as a novel by John Buchan, dated 1900 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: John Buchan
Date: 1900 CE
Language: English
Genres: Adventure, Thriller, Historical Fiction, Drama, Mystery
Length: 107,840 words
Structure: 32 chapters, 1,577 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Adventure — The plot involves exploration and challenges faced by the protagonist, typical of adventure narratives.
Thriller — The story contains suspenseful elements and tension that keep the reader engaged.
Historical Fiction — The setting and context reflect historical events, providing a backdrop that influences the narrative.
Drama — The themes explore human emotions and relationships, characteristic of dramatic literature.