A Second Coming

Marsh, Richard, 1857-1915Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.3

Word count: 316K words
Chapters: 32

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 Second Coming by Richard Marsh. Author: Marsh, Richard, 1857-1915. Language: English. Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature. Release Date: Nov 28, 2011

Editor's review

A Second Coming is a novel by the English writer Richard Marsh (1857–1915). Marsh was known for popular fiction with twisting plots and eerie atmospheres, and this work unfolds its narrative under the name of the "Second Coming," carrying overtones of suspense and the supernatural. As a free public-domain ebook from Project Gutenberg, it is easy to access on a computer, tablet, or e-reader, and is well suited to understanding the landscape of English popular literature from the late nineteenth to the early twentieth century. There is no need to rush; readers can follow the plot's development to appreciate the author's construction of suspense and characterization. Those interested in religious imagination and social mentality from the late Victorian to the Edwardian era may also compare it with works on similar themes from the same period. As a public-domain electronic text, it is advisable to choose an edition with clear formatting and well-defined chapters, and to consult the historical background as appropriate for a smoother reading experience.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy late Victorian to Edwardian English fiction
Those interested in suspense, bizarre plots, and supernatural themes
Researchers or students using public-domain ebooks to understand English popular literature
Readers accustomed to reading English originals who wish to broaden their range of classics

Not a good fit for

General readers who read only Chinese translations and do not wish to engage with the English original
Beginners expecting systematic scholarly annotations or a modern introduction
Readers seeking pure entertainment with no interest in religious allegory or historical context

Reading tips

First learn about Richard Marsh's background and the tradition of English popular fiction, then enter the text.
Proceed chapter by chapter, noting suspense clues and character relationships; brief notes while reading may help.
Look up religious or period allusions as they arise, so that unfamiliarity with the background does not interrupt reading.
After finishing, compare it with works on similar themes from the same period to appreciate the narrative strategies of popular literature.

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?

According to the available information, this is an English public-domain book released by Project Gutenberg. The language is English, and the main text is the English original, not a Chinese translation.

Do I need to pay or register to read it?

Project Gutenberg is known for providing free ebooks. This book is a public-domain electronic text and can usually be downloaded or read online directly, with no purchase required.

Is this book suitable as academic research material?

It can serve as supplementary material for understanding Marsh's work and English popular literature, but public-domain electronic editions usually lack modern scholarly annotations. For in-depth research, it is advisable to use authoritative editions together with secondary research literature.

What background should I know before reading?

It is advisable first to understand the social and religious context of England from the late nineteenth to the early twentieth century, as well as Marsh's basic position as a popular fiction author. This will help in understanding the book's construction of suspense and its allegorical meaning.

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About the author

Marsh, Richard, 1857-1915 Author

Richard Marsh (1857-1915) was a British novelist of the late Victorian and Edwardian periods, known for intricately plotted tales of mystery and suspense. Twenty-one of his works are held here, the best known being The Beetle: A Mystery, which belongs to the popular "monster novel" tradition of its day and echoes contemporary Gothic horror; A Second Coming draws on religious and apocalyptic themes. Other titles, such as Amusement Only, A Duel, Between the Dark and the Daylight, Miss Arnott's Marriage, Tom Ossington's Ghost and A Woman Perfected, range across the supernatural, crime, marriage and suspenseful adventure. Public information is limited and biographical details remain obscure, but his work shows a gift for atmosphere and startling twists, making him a name worth noting in the study of late Victorian popular fiction and horror literature.