$1,000 a Plate

McKenty, JackProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.8

Word count: 15K words
Chapters: 2

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.$1,000 a Plate by Jack McKentyAuthor: McKenty, Jack,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Jan 14, 2016

Editor's review

$1,000 a Plate is an English short story from Project Gutenberg by Jack McKenty, classified under American and Canadian literature. The title literally means "one thousand dollars a plate," carrying natural dramatic tension and suggesting a story about money, transactions, or class differences. As a public-domain ebook, its value lies first in accessibility: readers can read it free on multiple devices, making it a light choice for English literature extensive reading or short fiction. The text is short with moderate language difficulty, suitable for commuting, fragmented time, or original-text reading practice in English learning. Note that this is the English original, and the materials provide no detailed plot summary, so readers should not enter with expectations of a specific genre; it is better approached with an open mind to appreciate the author's narrative rhythm and period context. For readers studying twentieth-century American popular literature, it can also serve as a small sample reference.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Ordinary readers who want to try an English original short story at low cost
Office workers who need fragmented reading material and prefer short pieces
Literature enthusiasts interested in American popular literature and willing to read extensively
Learners practicing English original reading who want to control length

Not a good fit for

Readers who only read Chinese and do not accept English originals
Readers expecting a full-length plot or complex worldbuilding
Beginners who need detailed annotations or guided reading to get through

Reading tips

Read through once to grasp the plot direction, then check unfamiliar words and usage on the second pass.
Read one chapter or passage at a time, then write a two-sentence English summary in your notes.
Read alongside other public-domain American short stories to compare narrative styles.
Mark cultural background questions first, then look them up together after finishing the whole piece.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book in Chinese or English?

This is the English original from Project Gutenberg, a public-domain ebook. The materials show no Chinese translation, so basic English reading ability is needed; a dictionary or translation tool is recommended.

How long is the book, and how long does it take to finish?

The materials give no specific word count or page count, but as a short-story ebook it is not long. You can schedule one or two passages a day and usually finish one read-through within a few days.

Do I need to know the author's background before reading?

The materials provide only the author's name, Jack McKenty, with no biographical details. Ordinary readers need not research the author beforehand and can go straight into the text; for literary research, find reliable sources separately, but do not over-infer from this book's description.

Why does the description spend so much on Project Gutenberg?

Because the book is published by Project Gutenberg, and its description template mainly introduces the platform's history and founder rather than summarizing the story. Readers should separate the platform introduction from the work itself and not judge the plot from it.

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About the author

McKenty, Jack Author

Jack McKenty is a Chinese-language author about whom very little public information is available. Two of his works are currently held in the collection: $1,000 a Plate and Wait for Weight. Judging from these titles, his writing tends to focus on everyday life and social phenomena with a popular, topical touch; the former appears related to dining, consumption, or fundraising events, while the latter may deal with issues of weight, health, or waiting. Since his dates of birth and death, nationality, education, and writing career cannot be verified, it is difficult to sketch a complete biography, and it would be inappropriate to make excessive claims about his literary standing or social influence. Based on the available titles, he seems to be an author who treats realistic subjects in a light and accessible style. His output is small, and these works serve as an introductory clue to his writing orientation. Further public materials and work information are needed for readers to learn more about him.