A Private of the King's own Scottish Borderers
The novel is a historical romance set during the Napoleonic Wars. It follows the story of a young Scottish soldier who falls in love with an Englishwoman while serving in the British Army. The narrative explores themes of patriotism, duty, and forbidden love amidst the backdrop of war.
By John Lang · First published 1894 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Military Fiction, Adventure · 3,120 words
First lines
As the evening closed in, the heavy south-westerly gale that had raged throughout the long-drawn summer's day gradually dropped, and blew now only in fitful gusts. Instead of the sullen, unending roar of artillery, which till past mid-day had stunned the ear, there was now to be heard only the muttering of distant thunder; the flash of guns was replaced by the glare of lightning flickering against the dark background of heavy cloud that hung low on the horizon; and, except for an irregular splutter of musketry, or an occasional dropping shot from direction of the town, the ominous, sustained rattle of small-arms had now entirely ceased.
What this Textopian page supports
A Private of the King's own Scottish Borderers is listed on Textopian as a short story by John Lang, dated 1894 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 Lang
- Date: 1894 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Military Fiction, Adventure, Drama, Literary Fiction
- Length: 3,120 words
- Structure: 1 section, 40 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Private of the King's own Scottish Borderers by John Lang
- 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 A Private of the King's own Scottish Borderers?
- How does this short story by John Lang fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Hadji Murad by Leo Tolstoy
- Within The Enemys Lines by Oliver Optic
- The Black Douglas by James Baldwin
- Great Britain At War by Jeffery Farnol
- A Little House In War Time by Egerton Castle
- Patriot Fighting For His Home by James Mcintyre
Genres
- Historical Fiction — The narrative is set during a specific historical event, focusing on the experiences of soldiers in a battle.
- Military Fiction — The plot centers around military conflict, tactics, and the lives of soldiers.
- Adventure — The story includes elements of personal struggle and conflict, typical of adventure narratives.
- Drama — The work explores intense emotional themes, including loss, revenge, and the consequences of war.
Tags
Historical Fiction · War Novel · Scottish Literature · British Army · Soldier's Life · Adventure Story · Coming of Age · Maturity Theme · Nationalism · Patriotism · Friendship · Loyalty