Short Fiction · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Short Fiction by Xavier de Maistre.
Each chapter has a companion in the reader — open a free preview to see notes beside the text.
Chapter 1
A Journey Round My Room
The narrator introduces his unique concept of traveling around his room, framing it as a journey of imagination and self-discovery. He describes the pleasures and reflections found in the familiar confines of his space, setting the stage for a series of meditative explorations.
Chapter 2
I
The narrator recounts how he came to possess the little room where he makes his night journey. Seeking solitude from a noisy house, he rents a room on the Rue de la Providence after a servant ruins a pastel sketch. He enjoys the peace until the French Revolution forces him into exile. Returning to Turin years later, he finds the room unchanged, filled with souvenirs, and decides to spend the night there before abandoning himself to Providence.
Chapter 3
II
The narrator reflects on his plans and becomes suspicious of his servant's honesty. He catches the servant attempting to steal his bag and discharges him. This incident prompts him to decide to make a fresh night journey around his room on his last night there.
Chapter 4
III
The narrator reflects on the sudden departure of his faithful servant Joanetti, who marries and leaves his service after fifteen years. He mourns the loss of his companion and the destruction of his old room by war, and resumes his solitary journey with melancholy.
Chapter 5
IV
The narrator reflects on sending his beloved dog Rose away to a convent for her old age, finding comfort in having made at least one creature happy despite the general failure of human attempts to achieve happiness.
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83 more companions → free preview- Chapter 6V
- Chapter 7VI
- Chapter 8VII
- Chapter 9VIII
- Chapter 10IX
- Chapter 11The Artificial Dove and the Epiphany of Nature
- Chapter 12XI
- Chapter 13XII
- Chapter 14XIII
- Chapter 15XIV
- Chapter 16XV
- Chapter 17XVI
- Chapter 18XVII
- Chapter 19XVIII
- Chapter 20XIX
- Chapter 21Chapter XX
- Chapter 22XXI
- Chapter 23XXII
- Chapter 24XXIII
- Chapter 25Chapter XXIV
- Chapter 26XXV
- Chapter 27XXVI
- Chapter 28XXVII
- Chapter 29XXVIII
- Chapter 30XXIX
- Chapter 31The Traveler on Horseback
- Chapter 32XXXI
- Chapter 33XXXII
- Chapter 34XXXIII
- Chapter 35XXXIV
- Chapter 36XXXV
- Chapter 37XXXVI
- Chapter 38XXXVII
- Chapter 39XXXVIII
- Chapter 40XXXIX
- Chapter 41XL
- Chapter 42XLI
- Chapter 43XLII
- Chapter 44XLIII
- Chapter 45A Night Journey Round My Room
- Chapter 46I
- Chapter 47II
- Chapter 48III
- Chapter 49IV
- Chapter 50V
- Chapter 51VI
- Chapter 52VII
- Chapter 53VIII
- Chapter 54IX
- Chapter 55The Artificial Dove and the Epiphany of Nature
- Chapter 56XI
- Chapter 57XII
- Chapter 58XIII
- Chapter 59XIV
- Chapter 60XV
- Chapter 61XVI: System of the Universe
- Chapter 62XVII
- Chapter 63XVIII
- Chapter 64XIX
- Chapter 65Chapter XX
- Chapter 66XXI
- Chapter 67XXII
- Chapter 68XXIII
- Chapter 69Chapter XXIV
- Chapter 70XXV
- Chapter 71XXVI
- Chapter 72XXVII
- Chapter 73XXVIII
- Chapter 74XXIX
- Chapter 75The Traveler on Horseback
- Chapter 76XXXI
- Chapter 77XXXII
- Chapter 78XXXIII
- Chapter 79XXXIV
- Chapter 80XXXV
- Chapter 81XXXVI
- Chapter 82XXXVII
- Chapter 83XXXVIII
- Chapter 84XXXIX
- Chapter 85The Leper of the City of Aosta
- Chapter 86The Prisoners of the Caucasus
- Chapter 87The Young Siberian
- Chapter 88Endnotes