Society's Next Craze
The novel satirizes the social conventions and class distinctions of Victorian England, using a series of absurd and fantastical events to comment on the social issues of the time. The narrative is structured around a series of vignettes, each featuring a different character or group of characters, which are loosely connected by their relationships to a mysterious figure known as "Mr. Punch."
By Thomas Anstey Guthrie · First published 1895 · Genre: Satire, Social Commentary, Comedy · 1,692 words
First lines
_It is the summer of 189. The scene is a road skirting Victoria Park, Bethnal Green, which Society's leaders have recently discovered and appointed as the rendez-vous for the Season, and where it is now the correct thing for all really smart people to indulge, between certain prescribed hours, in sports and pastimes that have hitherto been more characteristic of the masses than the classes. The only permissible mount now is the donkey, which must be ridden close to the tail, and referred to as a "moke. " A crowd of well-turned-out spectators arrives from the West End every morning about eleven to watch the brilliant parade of "Mokestrians" (as the Society journalist will already have decided to call them). Some drive slowly up and down on coster-barrows, attended by cockaded and disgusted grooms. About twelve, they break up into light luncheon parties; after which they play democratic games for half an hour or so, and drive home on drags._
What this Textopian page supports
Society's Next Craze is listed on Textopian as a short story by Thomas Anstey Guthrie, dated 1895 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: 1895 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Social Commentary, Comedy, Historical Fiction, Fiction
- Length: 1,692 words
- Structure: 1 section, 23 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Society's Next Craze 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
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Similar titles
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- Poor Romeo by Max Beerbohm
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- Mr Gupperducks Mishap by Herbert Jenkins
- Egregious Eastbourne Rhymes For The Times by Harry Graham
Genres
- Satire — The book critiques societal norms and behaviors, particularly the absurdity of class distinctions and trends.
- Social Commentary — It reflects on social changes and the blending of classes through shared activities, highlighting the dynamics of society.
- Comedy — The humorous portrayal of characters and their interactions provides comedic elements throughout the narrative.
- Historical Fiction — Set in a specific historical context, it captures the social atmosphere of late 19th-century England.
Tags
Satire · Humor · Social Commentary · Victorian Era · British Literature · Fantasy · Pseudonym · Serialized Fiction · Illustrated Book · Caricature · Comedy · Parody