At the British Museum
The story revolves around a young woman who becomes involved with a group of people trying to steal a valuable artifact from the British Museum. She gets caught up in their plans and eventually finds herself trapped in the museum overnight, where she uncovers a dark secret related to the artifact.
By Thomas Anstey Guthrie · First published 1910 · Genre: Satire, Comedy, Social Commentary · 2,018 words
First lines
IN THE SCULPTURE GALLERIES.
_Sightseers discovered drifting languidly along in a state of depression, only tempered by the occasional exercise of the right of every free-born Briton to criticize whenever he fails to understand. The general tone is that of faintly amused and patronizing superiority._
What this Textopian page supports
At the British Museum is listed on Textopian as a short story by Thomas Anstey Guthrie, dated 1910 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Thomas Anstey Guthrie
- Date: 1910 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Comedy, Social Commentary, Drama, Historical Fiction
- Length: 2,018 words
- Structure: 1 section, 66 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for At the British Museum by Thomas Anstey Guthrie
- 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 At the British Museum?
- How does this short story by Thomas Anstey Guthrie fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Satire — The book employs humor and irony to critique societal attitudes and behaviors observed in a museum setting.
- Comedy — The dialogue and situations are designed to elicit laughter through misunderstandings and absurdities.
- Social Commentary — It reflects on cultural perceptions and the ignorance of the characters regarding art and history.
- Drama — The interactions among characters create a narrative tension and reveal personal dynamics.
Tags
Humor · Satire · Social commentary · British culture · Museum setting · Comedy of manners · Upper class · Victorian era · London life · Cultural critique · Witty dialogue · Irony