A Love Story by Oliver Herford
The narrative follows the love story of a young couple, the son of a wizard and the daughter of an enchanter, whose romance is thwarted by the rivalry between their parents. Both families are engaged in the magical arts, leading to a fierce competition that escalates into animosity. Despite their good nature, the lovers find themselves unable to convince their parents to accept their union. Faced with insurmountable opposition, they decide to elope. Utilizing their magical abilities, they manage to escape in a hired carriage, which the young man magically propels at a slow pace. The young woman employs her enchantments to charm the cab driver, ensuring they do not have to pay for their ride. After their marriage, they settle in a tower built with stones provided by their parents, who remain unaware of their union. However, the parents soon discover the elopement and pursue the couple in a fit of rage. In a twist of fate, they confront each other and, in their fury, turn one another to stone. Left to their own devices, the newlyweds, now bereft of parental interference, decide to use the stones of their parents to construct their home. They live together in their tower, experiencing a mix of happiness and regret over the circumstances that led to their situation. The story concludes with a moral warning against crime and vice, suggesting that true happiness comes from goodness and virtue.
By Oliver Herford · First published 1914 · Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Comedy · 484 words
First lines
He was a Wizard's son, She an Enchanter's daughter; He dabbled in Spells for fun, Her father some magic had taught her.
They loved -- but alas! to agree Their parents they could n't persuade.
What this Textopian page supports
A Love Story is listed on Textopian as a short story by Oliver Herford, dated 1914 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Oliver Herford
- Date: 1914 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Comedy, Poetry, Satire
- Length: 484 words
- Structure: 1 section, 13 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Love Story by Oliver Herford
- 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 A Love Story?
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Genres
- Fantasy — The story features magical elements such as wizards and enchantments, central to the plot.
- Romance — The narrative revolves around the love story of two characters from rival magical families.
- Comedy — The poem employs humor and irony, particularly in the resolution of the lovers' conflict and the fate of their parents.
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, utilizing rhyme and meter typical of poetic forms.
Tags
Romance · Love · Poetry · Literary Fiction · Classic · Novel · Emotional · Introspective · Psychological · Character-driven · Relationships · Marriage