Brittle Bones by Robert Graves
Brittle Bones is a novel by Robert Graves, first published in 1929. It tells the story of a young man, John, who is sent to a sanatorium in the Swiss Alps to recover from tuberculosis. While there, he meets a variety of characters, including a beautiful young woman, a mysterious doctor, and a strange old man. As John's health improves, he begins to explore the secrets of the sanatorium and discovers a dark and sinister plot. The novel is a gripping exploration of the power of love, the fragility of life, and the strength of the human spirit.
By Robert Graves · First published 1920 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance · 293 words
First lines
Though I am an old man
With my bones very brittle,
Though I am a poor old man Worth very little, Yet I suck at my long pipe At peace in the sun, I do not fret nor much regret That my work is done.
If I were a young man With my bones full of marrow, Oh, if I were a bold young man Straight as an arrow, And if I had the same years To live once again, I would not change their simple range Of laughter and pain.
What this Textopian page supports
Brittle Bones is listed on Textopian as a short story by Robert Graves, dated 1920 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Robert Graves
- Date: 1920 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Mystery
- Length: 293 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Brittle Bones by Robert Graves
- 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 Brittle Bones?
- How does this short story by Robert Graves fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — The book is written by Robert Graves, a renowned literary fiction author, and the title suggests a focus on emotions and feelings, which is a common theme in literary fiction.
- Historical Fiction — The title suggests a focus on the past, which is a common theme in historical fiction.
- Romance — The title suggests a focus on emotions and feelings, which is a common theme in romance novels.
- Mystery — The title suggests a focus on secrets and hidden truths, which is a common theme in mystery novels.
Tags
disease · osteogenesis imperfecta · family · struggle · resilience · childhood · health · identity · trauma · medical · growth · adversity