Bank Holiday
The story revolves around a young woman who returns to her hometown after being away for several years. She becomes reacquainted with an old friend and they start a romantic relationship. However, their social differences and the woman's troubled past threaten to tear them apart. The novel explores themes of love, class, and personal identity.
By Thomas Anstey Guthrie · First published 1935 · Genre: Comedy, Social Satire, Drama · 1,901 words
First lines
SCENE -- _The Crystal Palace. The Nave is filled with a dense throng of Pleasure-seekers. Every free seat commanding the most distant view of a Variety Performance on the Great Stage has been occupied an hour in advance. The less punctual stand and enjoy the spectacle of other persons' hats or bonnets. Gangs of Male and Female Promenaders jostle and hustle to their hearts' content, or perform the war-song and dance of the Lower-class 'Arry, which consists in chanting "Oi tiddly-oi-toi; hoi-toi-oi! " to a double shuffle. Tired women sit on chairs and look at nothing. In the Grounds, the fancy of young men and maidens is lightly turning to thoughts of love; the first dawn of the tender passion being intimated, on the part of the youth, by chasing his charmer into a corner and partially throttling her, whereupon the maiden coyly conveys that his sentiments are not unreciprocated by thumping him between the shoulders.
What this Textopian page supports
Bank Holiday is listed on Textopian as a novel by Thomas Anstey Guthrie, dated 1935 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Thomas Anstey Guthrie
- Date: 1935 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Comedy, Social Satire, Drama, Slice of Life, Historical Fiction
- Length: 1,901 words
- Structure: 1 section, 45 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Bank Holiday 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
- 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 Bank Holiday?
- How does this novel by Thomas Anstey Guthrie fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Comedy first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Comedy — The book features humorous dialogues and situations, highlighting the absurdities of social interactions during a festive occasion.
- Social Satire — It critiques and reflects on the behaviors and attitudes of different social classes during a public holiday, revealing societal norms and expectations.
- Drama — The interactions among characters create dramatic tension, showcasing personal conflicts and societal commentary.
- Slice of Life — The narrative captures everyday experiences and the mundane aspects of life during a holiday, focusing on ordinary people's activities.
Tags
Humor · Satire · Social commentary · British literature · Early 20th century · Comedy of manners · Upper class · Leisure activities · Summer vacation · Country house · Marriage · Relationships