A Siren

Trollope, Thomas Adolphus, 1810-1892Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.1

Word count: 938K words
Chapters: 94

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 Siren by Thomas Adolphus TrollopeAuthor: Trollope, Thomas Adolphus, 1810-1892,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Feb 1, 2004

Editor's review

A Siren is an English novel by Thomas Adolphus Trollope, a work within nineteenth-century British literature, made available as a public-domain electronic text by Project Gutenberg. The "siren" of the title signals the work's attention to themes of temptation, charm and moral predicament; readers may understand character relations and narrative interest within the tradition of Victorian fiction. As a public-domain ebook, its value lies first in accessibility: readers can encounter at low cost a nineteenth-century novel not often found on popular lists and observe how popular narrative of the period handled emotion, marriage and social judgment. While reading, note the narrator's portrayal of female charm and male judgment, and the moral judgments implied in the plot's development. It suits readers curious about British literary history who accept a slower narrative pace, rather than those seeking strong plotting or a modern reading experience. Overall, it is a work to browse as a side sample of literary history.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Literature lovers interested in nineteenth-century British fiction
Students studying Victorian popular narrative and the depiction of gender
Readers hoping to broaden their reading of public-domain English novels
Readers accustomed to a slower narrative pace who are willing to look up period background

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer fast-paced, strongly plotted or modern genre fiction
Beginners with limited English reading ability unwilling to use reference tools
Serious researchers expecting an authoritative annotated edition or scholarly introduction

Reading tips

Learn the common themes and narrative conventions of nineteenth-century British fiction before entering the text.
Record while reading how the "siren" image is embodied in characterization and plot turns.
May read alongside background on Trollope's family, without over-relying on biographical interpretation.
For the English text, proceed chapter by chapter; mark unfamiliar expressions and look them up later in batches to keep reading连贯.

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 a public-domain ebook?

Yes. The text is prepared and published by Project Gutenberg as a public-domain ebook. Readers can obtain the English original free of charge, but note that public-domain texts usually lack modern scholarly notes or introductions, so background must be supplied independently.

What English level is needed to read this book?

As a nineteenth-century English novel, its syntax and vocabulary carry period features. A moderate or higher English reading ability is advisable, along with willingness to use dictionaries and background materials. If English reading is not yet proficient, read an overview of Victorian fiction in Chinese literary history before attempting the original.

How should the "siren" in the title be understood?

The siren in Western tradition often symbolizes a figure who lures others toward danger by charm. While reading, note how this image is projected onto character relations and moral judgment, but judge specific meanings by the text's actual descriptions rather than over-symbolizing apart from the plot.

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About the author

Trollope, Thomas Adolphus, 1810-1892 Author

Thomas Adolphus Trollope (1810-1892) was the elder brother of the English novelist Anthony Trollope and was himself known as a writer. Five of his works are held here, including the two-volume memoir What I Remember and the two-volume A Decade of Italian Women, as well as the novel A Siren. These works show that his writing ranged from personal reminiscence to Italian history and society, with particular attention to women and local customs; his style is plain and rich in observation. His memoirs preserve glimpses of literary acquaintance and of life in Italy in the nineteenth century, and are of some value for understanding the overseas life of the British intelligentsia of the period. Public information is limited, and details of his life and the influence of his works await further study.