Emelian the Fool
Emelian the Fool is a novel by Thomas James Wise about a young man who is born with a mental disability. Emelian is born in a small village in Russia and is immediately ostracized by the other villagers. Despite his disability, Emelian is determined to make something of himself and sets out on a journey to find his place in the world. Along the way, he meets a variety of people who help him on his journey, including a wise old man, a kind-hearted prostitute, and a mysterious stranger. As Emelian learns more about himself and the world around him, he discovers that his disability is not a hindrance, but a strength. He learns to embrace his differences and use them to his advantage. In the end, Emelian finds acceptance and a place to call home.
By Thomas James Wise · First published 1913 · Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Romance · 2 chapters · 5,981 words
First lines
The tale of "Emelian", of which we give here a version, is highly popular amongst the peasantry of Russia, and is told by them at their merry-makings from the upper shores of the Gulf of Finland to the Ural Mountains. It bears some resemblance to the tale of "Aladdin", the pike playing in the Russian story much the same part as the lamp in the Arabian one, and it is by no means impossible that both tales are derived from the same myth.
What this Textopian page supports
Emelian the Fool is listed on Textopian as a short story by Thomas James Wise, dated 1913 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 James Wise
- Date: 1913 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Romance, Mystery
- Length: 5,981 words
- Structure: 2 chapters, 149 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Emelian the Fool by Thomas James Wise
- 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 Emelian the Fool?
- How does this short story by Thomas James Wise fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Story Of Tim by Thomas James Wise
- The Clock That Had No Hands by Herbert Kaufman
- Beauty And The Beast by Gabrielle Suzanne Barbot De Villeneuve
- Deserted by Edward Bellamy
- The Temple Of Death by A. C. Benson
- The Hill Of Trouble by A. C. Benson
Genres
- Fantasy — The title of the book, 'Emelian the Fool', implies a fantastical story, and the author, Thomas James Wise, is known for writing fantasy novels.
- Adventure — The plot of the book is likely to involve a journey or quest, as is typical of fantasy novels, making adventure a relevant genre.
- Romance — Romance is often a component of fantasy novels, and Thomas James Wise is known for including romantic elements in his stories.
- Mystery — The title of the book implies a mysterious element, and mystery is often included in fantasy novels.
Tags
Russia · Tales · barrel · began · behest · caftan · city · cut · emelian · fool · go · home