The Airship by Selma Lagerlof (1912)
The novel revolves around a young woman who returns to her childhood home after being away for many years. She becomes involved with the local community and begins to uncover secrets about her family's past. As she delves deeper into the truth, she faces opposition from those who want to keep the past buried. The story explores themes of identity, community, and the power of storytelling. The novel is a character-driven exploration of human relationships and the complexities of small-town life.
By Selma Lagerlof · First published 1912 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Coming-of-Age, Drama · 8,940 words
First lines
Father and the boys are seated one rainy October evening in a third-class railway coach on their way to Stockholm. The father is sitting by himself on one bench, and the boys sit close together directly opposite him, reading a Jules Verne romance entitled Six Weeks in a Balloon. The book is much worn. The boys know it almost by heart and have held endless discussions on it, but they always read it with the same pleasure. They have forgotten everything else to follow the daring sailors of the air all over Africa, and seldom raise their eyes from the book to glance at the Swedish towns they are travelling through.
What this Textopian page supports
The Airship is listed on Textopian as a novel by Selma Lagerlof, dated 1912 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Selma Lagerlof
- Date: 1912 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Coming-of-Age, Drama, Adventure, Social Commentary
- Length: 8,940 words
- Structure: 1 section, 111 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Airship by Selma Lagerlof
- 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 Airship?
- How does this novel by Selma Lagerlof 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 work explores deep emotional and psychological themes, focusing on family dynamics, personal aspirations, and the impact of parental behavior on children.
- Coming-of-Age — The narrative centers on the growth and development of the two boys as they navigate their challenging home life and their dreams of invention and exploration.
- Drama — The story is rich in dramatic tension, highlighting the struggles between the father and his children, as well as the emotional turmoil caused by the father's alcoholism.
- Adventure — The boys' aspirations to build an airship and explore the world reflect themes of adventure and discovery, which are central to their character development.
Tags
Historical Fiction · Swedish Literature · Adventure · Romance · Coming-of-Age · Social Commentary · Realism · Nationalism · Imperialism · Colonialism · Identity Crisis · Cultural Clash