A Rough Shaking

MacDonald, George, 1824-1905Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.2

Word count: 579K words
Chapters: 58

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 Rough Shaking by George MacDonaldAuthor: MacDonald, George, 1824-1905,Language: English, Class: PZ: Language and Literatures: Juvenile belles lettres, Release Date: Sep 1, 2005

Editor's review

George MacDonald was an important nineteenth-century Scottish author whose works often center on growth, trial and faith. A Rough Shaking likewise follows a boy through turbulent circumstances and bears the author's characteristic moral imagination: worldly hardship and inner growth intertwine, and while the plot does not shy from suffering, the narration keeps warmth and hope. MacDonald's language is more rhythmic and symbolic than that of ordinary children's stories, with some passages verging on allegory, so reading requires a slower pace. The book serves well as a supplementary read for understanding MacDonald's oeuvre: less widely known than his fairy tales, it shows how the author handles a boy protagonist's wandering and formation of character. For scholars of children's literature it is a sample for observing Victorian coming-of-age narrative and religious feeling; for general readers, a read that demands patience but may leave an aftertaste. It is advisable to read a chapter or two first to judge whether the style suits you, then decide between close and casual reading.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in Victorian coming-of-age novels
Literary enthusiasts studying George MacDonald's work
Readers able to accept a slower pace and symbolic language
Readers wanting to understand the moral narratives of older children's literature

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer light, humorous or fast-paced stories
Readers sensitive to religious and moralizing tones
Beginners in English reading who need simple texts

Reading tips

Read the first two chapters to feel the density of the language, then decide whether to read closely chapter by chapter or read through for the main thread.
Annotate symbolic passages briefly, noting how recurring images relate to the protagonist's situation.
If interested in the author's thought, read alongside his fairy tales to see how themes shift across genres.
After finishing, write a hundred-word summary to check whether you have grasped the key turns in the protagonist's circumstances.

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 harder to read than MacDonald's fairy tales?

This is a coming-of-age narrative rather than a fairy tale, with language more marked by its era and by moral weight, more symbolism and commentary, and a slower pace. Even if you have read his fairy tales, expectations should be adjusted; it is closer in manner to Victorian boys' coming-of-age novels.

What does the title "A Rough Shaking" mean?

The available information gives no official explanation of the title, so one should not assert one. Literally, "rough shaking" can be understood as severe jolting or trial, echoing the growth theme of a boy tested by hardship; the specific meaning should be judged from the context of the text.

Is it suitable as English reading for children?

The original is classified as young adult literature, but it dates from an earlier era, its language and values are remote from today, and it deals with hardship. Whether it suits a particular child depends on their English level and tolerance for older narratives; parents are advised to look through it first before deciding.

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About the author

MacDonald, George, 1824-1905 Author

George MacDonald (1824–1905) was a Scottish author known for his fairy tales, fantasy novels and religious sermons. This library holds 68 of his works, including The Princess and the Goblin, The Princess and Curdie, At the Back of the North Wind, Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women, Sir Gibbie and the three series of Unspoken Sermons. His fairy tales often centre on children, weaving adventure with questions of morality and faith in plain, imaginative prose, while his fantasy works are regarded as forerunners of modern fantasy literature and have influenced later writers of the genre. Public information is limited, so no biographical details are speculated here; his works alone show him to be skilled in both storytelling and spiritual reflection, writing for children and adults alike.