Alone by Norman Douglas (1922)
"Alone" is a novel by Norman Douglas that follows the story of a young man named Nils who travels to Italy in search of adventure and self-discovery. The book explores themes of solitude, identity, and the human condition through Nils' experiences as he navigates his way through various Italian cities and encounters a diverse cast of characters along the way.
By Norman Douglas · First published 1922 · Genre: Travel Literature, Memoir, Philosophical · 14 chapters · 88,814 words
First lines
What ages ago it seems, that "Great War"!
And what enthusiasts we were! What visionaries, to imagine that in such an hour of emergency a man might discover himself to be fitted for some work of national utility without that preliminary wire-pulling which was essential in humdrum times of peace! How we lingered in long queues, and stamped up and down, and sat about crowded, stuffy halls, waiting, only waiting, to be asked to do something for our country by any little guttersnipe who happened to have been jockeyed into the requisite position of authority! What innocents.
What this Textopian page supports
Alone is listed on Textopian as a novel by Norman Douglas, dated 1922 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Norman Douglas
- Date: 1922 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Travel Literature, Memoir, Philosophical, Non-fiction
- Length: 88,814 words
- Structure: 14 chapters, 1,198 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Alone by Norman Douglas
- 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 Alone?
- How does this novel by Norman Douglas fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Travel Literature first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Travel Literature — The book is primarily a travel narrative, focusing on the author's experiences and observations during his journeys.
- Memoir — The work includes personal reflections and insights, characteristic of a memoir.
- Philosophical — The text delves into philosophical musings and contemplations on solitude and society.
- Non-fiction — The book is based on real-life experiences and factual accounts, fitting the non-fiction genre.
Tags
isolation · solitude · self-discovery · existentialism · introspection · loneliness · philosophy · nature · human experience · travel · reflection · emotional depth
Contents
- Introduction
- Mentone
- Levanto
- Siena
- Pisa
- Viareggio (February)
- Viareggio (May)
- Rome
- Olevano
- Valmontone
- Sant' Agata, Sorrento
- Rome
- Soriano
- Alatri