True Johnny by Robert Graves (1920)
True Johnny is a novel by Robert Graves, first published in 1929. It tells the story of a young man, Johnny, who is born into a family of gypsies and is determined to make something of himself. He is determined to rise above his station and become a successful businessman. Along the way, he faces many obstacles, including prejudice and poverty. He also has to deal with his own inner demons, as he struggles to come to terms with his past and his identity. Ultimately, Johnny succeeds in his quest and finds a place in the world. The novel is a powerful exploration of identity, ambition, and the power of the human spirit.
By Robert Graves · First published 1920 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Drama · 276 words
First lines
Johnny, sweetheart, can you be true
To all those famous vows you've made,
Will you love me as I love you Until we both in earth are laid? Or shall the old wives nod and say His love was only for a day: The mood goes by, His fancies fly, And Mary's left to sigh.
Mary, alas, you've hit the truth, And I with grief can but admit Hot-blooded haste controls my youth, My idle fancies veer and flit From flower to flower, from tree to tree, And when the moment catches me, Oh, love goes by Away I fly And leave my girl to sigh.
What this Textopian page supports
True Johnny 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: Historical Fiction, Romance, Drama, Literary Fiction
- Length: 276 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for True Johnny by Robert Graves
- 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 True Johnny?
- How does this short story by Robert Graves 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 book is set in a specific time period and follows the story of a character, Johnny, who is based on a real-life figure from the past.
- Romance — The book follows the story of Johnny and his love interest, and explores the themes of love and relationships.
- Drama — The book follows the story of Johnny and his struggles with his emotions and relationships, and explores the themes of love, loss, and redemption.
- Literary Fiction — The book is written in a literary style, with complex characters and themes, and explores the themes of love, loss, and redemption.
Tags
historical fiction · biography · war · identity · family · loyalty · betrayal · adventure · drama · British history · World War I · coming of age