The Sheriffs Bluff
Sheriffs Bluff is a novel by Thomas Nelson Page set in the American South during the Reconstruction era. The story follows the lives of two families, the Sheriffs and the Bluffs, who are both struggling to survive in the aftermath of the Civil War. The Sheriffs are a family of former slaves who have been given a small plot of land to farm, while the Bluffs are a family of former Confederate soldiers who are struggling to make ends meet. As the two families try to make a living, they must also contend with the racism and violence of the Reconstruction era. The novel follows the Sheriffs and the Bluffs as they try to make a life for themselves in a world that is hostile to them. Along the way, they must confront their own prejudices and learn to accept each other in order to survive.
By Thomas Nelson Page · First published 1908 · Genre: Western Fiction, Historical Fiction, Adventure Fiction · 4 chapters · 8,548 words
First lines
The county of H -- -- -- was an old Colonial county, and even as late as the time of my story contained many Colonial relics. Among them were the court-house and the jail, and, at that time, the Judge and the Sheriff.
The court-house was an old brick edifice of solemn and grayish brown, with a portico whose mighty columns might have stood before a temple of Minerva overlooking the Ægean Sea. With its thick walls and massive barred windows, it might have been thought the jail, until one saw the jail. The jail once seen stood alone.
What this Textopian page supports
The Sheriffs Bluff is listed on Textopian as a novel by Thomas Nelson Page, dated 1908 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Thomas Nelson Page
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Western Fiction, Historical Fiction, Adventure Fiction, Romance Fiction
- Length: 8,548 words
- Structure: 4 chapters, 207 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Sheriffs Bluff by Thomas Nelson Page
- 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 Sheriffs Bluff?
- How does this novel by Thomas Nelson Page fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Western Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Fiddles by Francis Hopkinson Smith
- Mam Lyddys Recognition by Thomas Nelson Page
- A Mere Chance by Ada Cambridge
- The Sheriff And His Partner by Frank Harris
- Bred In The Bone by Thomas Nelson Page
- The Denver Express by Augustus Allen Hayes
Genres
- Western Fiction — The title of the book, 'The Sheriff's Bluff', implies a story set in the American West, and the author, Thomas Nelson Page, is known for writing stories set in the American South and West.
- Historical Fiction — Thomas Nelson Page was a popular writer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, so the book is likely to be set in a historical context.
- Adventure Fiction — The title of the book implies a story of adventure and danger, which is a common theme in Western fiction.
- Romance Fiction — Thomas Nelson Page was known for writing stories with romantic elements, so there is a chance that this book may contain some romantic elements as well.
Tags
Fiction · Short stories · Social life and customs · Southern States · aleck · back · bar · began · come · county · court · creel