The Mother by Pearl S. Buck (1934)

Name: The Mother
Author: Pearl S. Buck

The Mother by Pearl S. Buck explores the emotional and physical burdens faced by a woman as she navigates the complexities of motherhood while caring for her children and managing the absence of her husband. As she struggles with her unfulfilled desires and the conflicts between her sons, the story delves into themes of isolation, resilience, and the longing for connection in a demanding world.

By Pearl S. Buck · First published 1934 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Family Saga · 19 chapters · 88,730 words

First lines

In the kitchen of the small thatched farmhouse the mother sat on a low bamboo stool behind the earthen stove and fed grass deftly into the hole where a fire burned beneath the iron cauldron. The blaze was but just caught and she moved a twig here, a handful of leaves there, and thrust in a fresh bit of the dried grass she had cut from the hillsides last autumn. In the corner of the kitchen as near as she could creep to the fire sat a very old and weazened woman, wrapped in a thick padded coat of bright red cotton stuff, whose edges showed under a patched coat of blue she wore over it. She was half blind with a sore disease of the eyes, and this had well-nigh sealed her eyelids together. But through the small slits left open she could see a great deal still, and she watched the flare of the flames as they leaped and caught under the strong and skillful hands of the mother. Now she said, her words hissing softly through her sunken, toothless gums, "Be careful how you feed the fire -- there is only that one load -- is it two? -- and the spring is but newly come and we have long to go before the grass is long enough to cut and here I am as I am and I doubt I can ever go again and pick a bit of fuel -- a useless old crone now, who ought to die -- "

What this Textopian page supports

The Mother is listed on Textopian as a novel by Pearl S. Buck, dated 1934 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: Pearl S. Buck
Date: 1934 CE
Language: English
Genres: Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Family Saga, Women's Fiction, Social Commentary
Length: 88,730 words
Structure: 19 chapters, 901 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The Mother by Pearl S. Buck
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering The Mother?
How does this novel by Pearl S. Buck fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Literary Fiction — The book explores deep emotional and psychological themes through character development and narrative style.
Historical Fiction — Set in a specific cultural and historical context, it reflects the societal norms and challenges of the time.
Family Saga — The story revolves around familial relationships and the complexities of motherhood.
Women's Fiction — Focuses on women's experiences and perspectives, particularly in relation to motherhood.

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