The Make-Believe Man
The novel follows the story of a young man, John Darrow, who is a struggling writer in New York City. He is desperate to make a name for himself and to make a living from his writing. He is also desperate to find a way to make his dreams come true. One day, John meets a mysterious man named Mr. Make-Believe, who claims to be able to make any dream come true. John is skeptical at first, but eventually agrees to try out Mr. Make-Believe's services. John soon finds himself in a world of make-believe, where his dreams come true and he is able to make a living from his writing. But as he continues to use Mr. Make-Believe's services, he begins to realize that there is a price to pay for his newfound success. The Make-Believe Man is a story of ambition, dreams, and the power of imagination. It is a timeless classic that will appeal to readers of all ages.
By Richard Harding Davis · First published 1916 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Romance · 2 chapters · 11,104 words
First lines
I had made up my mind that when my vacation came I would spend it seeking adventures. I have always wished for adventures, but, though I am old enough -- I was twenty-five last October -- and have always gone half-way to meet them, adventures avoid me. Kinney says it is my fault.
He holds that if you want adventures you must go after them.
What this Textopian page supports
The Make-Believe Man is listed on Textopian as a novel by Richard Harding Davis, dated 1916 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Richard Harding Davis
- Date: 1916 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Romance, Realistic Fiction
- Length: 11,104 words
- Structure: 2 chapters, 278 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Make-Believe Man by Richard Harding Davis
- 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 The Make-Believe Man?
- How does this novel by Richard Harding Davis fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Historical Fiction — The Make-Believe Man is set in the late 19th century and follows the story of a young man who is trying to make his way in the world. This setting and plot are indicative of historical fiction.
- Adventure — The Make-Believe Man follows the protagonist's journey as he embarks on a series of adventures in pursuit of his dreams. This makes the book an adventure story.
- Romance — The Make-Believe Man features a romantic subplot between the protagonist and a young woman he meets on his journey. This makes the book a romance story.
- Realistic Fiction — The Make-Believe Man is set in a realistic world and follows the protagonist's struggles to make his way in the world. This makes the book a realistic fiction story.
Tags
Fiction · Short stories · adventure · adventures · aldrich · beautiful · bedford · board · boat · cabin · called · cried