Clouds Across the Canyon
The novel is set in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas in the early 20th century. It tells the story of the McCloud family, who have lived in the area for generations. The family is struggling to make ends meet, and the youngest son, Tom, is determined to make a better life for himself and his family. Tom's ambition leads him to leave the family farm and move to the city, where he finds success as a businessman. But his newfound wealth and success come at a cost, as he is forced to confront the harsh realities of the modern world. Meanwhile, back on the farm, Tom's family is struggling to survive. His father is ill, and his mother is struggling to keep the family together. As Tom's success grows, he is forced to confront the choices he has made and the consequences of his actions. The novel is a powerful exploration of the human condition, and the struggles of a family trying to make a life in a rapidly changing world.
By John Gould Fletcher · First published 1916 · Genre: Regional Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction · 135 words
First lines
Shadows of clouds March across the canyon, Shadows of blue hands passing Over a curtain of flame.
Clutching, staggering, upstriking, Darting in blue-black fury, To where pinnacles, green and orange, Await.
The winds are battling and striving to break them: Thin lightnings spit and flicker, The peaks seem a dance of scarlet demons Flitting amid the shadows.
Grey rain-curtains wave afar off, Wisps of vapour curl and vanish. The sun throws soft shafts of golden light Over rose-buttressed palisades.
What this Textopian page supports
Clouds Across the Canyon is listed on Textopian as a short story by John Gould Fletcher, dated 1916 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: John Gould Fletcher
- Date: 1916 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Regional Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Romance
- Length: 135 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Clouds Across the Canyon by John Gould 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 Clouds Across the Canyon?
- How does this short story by John Gould Fletcher fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Regional Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Regional Fiction — The title of the book suggests a story set in a rural area, likely in the American Southwest, and the author's biography indicates he was a poet and novelist from Arkansas, so Regional Fiction is the most relevant genre.
- Historical Fiction — The author's biography indicates he wrote about the American South during the early 20th century, so Historical Fiction is the second most relevant genre.
- Literary Fiction — The author was a poet and novelist, so Literary Fiction is the third most relevant genre.
- Romance — There is no indication that the book is a Romance, so it is the least relevant genre.
Tags
20th century · American poetry · English poetry · Imagist poetry · afar · balloons · black-dappled · blue · blue-black · bobbing · clouds · clutching