A Word in Season by Ruth Lamb (1883)
"A Word in Season" by Ruth Lamb is a narrative centered around the themes of faith, belief, and the influence of secular ideas on religious convictions. The story begins with a conversation between two working-class men, Jim Parker and John Turner. Jim expresses his intention to attend a lecture by an atheist speaker, which surprises John. John, a devout Christian, is concerned about the potential impact of such ideas on Jim's faith. He argues that listening to the atheist could be spiritually harmful, likening it to consuming poison. John emphasizes the comfort and hope his faith provides, especially in times of trouble, and warns against the emptiness of the atheist's message. Despite Jim's initial curiosity, John's earnestness and reasoning eventually persuade him to reconsider attending the lecture. The story highlights the tension between secular and religious worldviews and the importance of steadfastness in one's beliefs.
By Ruth Lamb · First published 1883 · Genre: Religious Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Social Commentary · 1,433 words
First lines
"YOU don't mean to say you are really going to hear that atheist lecturer, Jim," said a working man to his neighbour who had just entered his cottage after tea was over.
The two men had walked home from work together, and it was while they were on the way that Jim Parker had stated his intention of going to hear the so-called secularist, and asked his fellow-workman to accompany him. John Turner was not a little surprised when the latter made his appearance as he said "spruced up," to repeat the invitation.
What this Textopian page supports
A Word in Season is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ruth Lamb, dated 1883 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Ruth Lamb
- Date: 1883 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Religious Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Social Commentary, Historical Fiction, Didactic Fiction
- Length: 1,433 words
- Structure: 1 section, 22 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Word in Season by Ruth Lamb
- 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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Genres
- Religious Fiction — The narrative centers on debates about faith versus secularism, emphasizing strong Christian convictions in a working-class setting.
- Philosophical Fiction — It explores themes of belief, reason, and the conflict between spiritual certainty and skepticism through dialogue.
- Social Commentary — The conversations reflect on the influence of religious and secular ideas on society and personal values.
- Historical Fiction — The period-specific setting and dialogue evoke a historical context that informs the characters' perspectives.
Tags
historical fiction · period drama · romance · family saga · coming-of-age · social issues · personal growth · self-discovery · identity · resilience · sacrifice · betrayal