The Lemnian by John Buchan (1908)
This novel is a historical adventure set during the Peloponnesian War. It follows a young Athenian named Theodoros who becomes embroiled in the conflict between Athens and Sparta. The story explores themes of loyalty, duty, and the complexities of war through Theodoros' experiences as a soldier and a spy.
By John Buchan · First published 1908 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Mythology · 8,077 words
First lines
He pushed the matted locks from his brow as he peered into the mist. His hair was thick with salt, and his eyes smarted from the greenwood fire on the poop. The four slaves who crouched beside the thwarts-Carians with thin birdlike faces-were in a pitiable case, their hands blue with oar-weals and the lash marks on their shoulders beginning to gape from sun and sea. The Lemnian himself bore marks of ill usage. His cloak was still sopping, his eyes heavy with watching, and his lips black and cracked with thirst. Two days before the storm had caught him and swept his little craft into mid-Aegean. He was a sailor, come of sailor stock, and he had fought the gale manfully and well. But the sea had burst his waterjars, and the torments of drought had been added to his toil. He had been driven south almost to Scyros, but had found no harbour. Then a weary day with the oars had brought him close to the Euboean shore, when a freshet of storm drove him seaward again. Now at last in this northerly creek of Sciathos he had found shelter and a spring. But it was a perilous place, for there were robbers in the bushy hills -- mainland men who loved above all things to rob an islander: and out at sea, as he looked towards Pelion, there seemed something adoing which boded little good. There was deep water beneath a ledge of cliff, half covered by a tangle of wildwood. So Atta lay in the bows, looking through the trails of vine at the racing tides now reddening in the dawn.
What this Textopian page supports
The Lemnian is listed on Textopian as a novella by John Buchan, dated 1908 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: John Buchan
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Mythology, Drama, War
- Length: 8,077 words
- Structure: 1 section, 65 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Lemnian by John Buchan
- 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 The Lemnian?
- How does this novella by John Buchan fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Historical Fiction — The narrative is set in a historical context, exploring themes of war and cultural conflict during ancient times.
- Adventure — The protagonist embarks on a perilous journey filled with danger and exploration.
- Mythology — The story incorporates elements of ancient gods and mythological themes, particularly in the protagonist's relationship with divine figures.
- Drama — The emotional and moral struggles of the characters, particularly the protagonist's internal conflict, drive the narrative.
Tags
Adventure · Fiction · Historical Fiction · Mystery · Thriller · Romance · War · Action · Suspense · Drama · Classic · Literary Fiction