A Modern Idyll

Harris, Frank, 1856-1931Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.9

Word count: 63K words
Chapters: 7

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.A Modern Idyll by Frank HarrisAuthor: Harris, Frank, 1856-1931,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Oct 12, 2007

Editor's review

A Modern Idyll is an English novel by Frank Harris, released as an eBook by Project Gutenberg and in the public domain as a work of English literature. Harris is known for his sharp, argumentative narrative style, and this book likewise continues his observation of social customs and the complexities of human nature. It is short and serves as a light entry point into late nineteenth-century English fiction. The value of the Gutenberg edition lies in its free text, easy searchability and portability; apart from copyright and bibliographic information, there is no modern introduction, so readers must attend to the historical context themselves. It is better suited as extensive reading material in the original English or as supplementary reading in literary history than as a beginner-level English text; reading it alongside material on the author's life and late Victorian society will make it easier to grasp the irony in the narration and the relationships between characters.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Literature enthusiasts who want to read late nineteenth-century English fiction extensively
Readers who need free English electronic texts for reading practice
Those interested in Frank Harris and late Victorian literature
Readers who prefer short narratives and fragmented reading of original texts

Not a good fit for

Beginners with weak English who need annotations and translations
Researchers seeking detailed introductions and scholarly notes
Readers who prefer strong plots and fast-paced modern fiction

Reading tips

Read through the whole book first to grasp the outline of the story, then go back and sort out the character relationships and narrative perspective.
Note unfamiliar vocabulary related to the historical background while reading, and look it up systematically after finishing.
Read alongside a biography of the author or material on late Victorian society and culture.
For English learning, read one chapter a day and retell the main idea rather than only looking up words.

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

What level of English is needed to read this book?

It is a late nineteenth-century English novel with period-specific sentence structures and vocabulary. A reading level of CET-4 or above is recommended, along with a willingness to look up unfamiliar words and background information; otherwise it is easy to lose the rhythm of reading in the details.

What are the features of the Gutenberg edition?

This edition is a free electronic text. Apart from the main text, it mainly contains copyright and bibliographic information, with no modern editor's introduction or notes. Its advantages are easy access and searchability; its shortcoming is that readers must supply the background themselves.

Do I need to know about the author before reading?

It is not mandatory, but understanding Harris's era and writing style helps in grasping the irony and argumentative tone of the book. Reading a brief author introduction before starting the main text is enough; there is no need for excessive research.

Comments

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About the author

Harris, Frank, 1856-1931 Author

Frank Harris (1856-1931) was an English-language author whose biographical details remain limited in publicly available sources; accounts of his nationality and early life vary, so no firm claim is made here. Eleven of his works are held in this collection, mainly biographies and fiction. He is best known for Oscar Wilde, His Life and Confessions (in two volumes), written from personal acquaintance and observation. Subjective and dramatic in tone, it is one of the more controversial early sources on Wilde. The Man Shakespeare and His Tragic Life Story follows a similar biographical approach, inferring character and experience from the works. His fiction, including Elder Conklin and Other Stories, Gulmore, the Boss, and The Sheriff and His Partner, is often set in the American West or in local communities, with rugged characters, tight plots, and direct language that make for readable popular narrative. Overall, Harris's writing foregrounds personality and private experience, with strong views that frequently provoked controversy.