A Study in Shadows

Locke, William John, 1863-1930Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 269K words
Chapters: 27

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 Study In Shadows by William John LockeAuthor: Locke, William John, 1863-1930,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Jan 18, 2017

Editor's review

William John Locke was an early twentieth-century English novelist, and A Study in Shadows is one of his full-length works, classed by Project Gutenberg as a public-domain ebook in English literature. Judging by the title and the author's consistent bent, the book is closer to a study-like narrative of character psychology and moral situation than to a genre novel driven by external events. Its value lies in observing how Edwardian fiction uses relationships to explore self-knowledge, emotional concealment, and the subtleties of human nature; the narrative is unhurried, with dialogue and inner portrayal taking a large share. As a public-domain text, it suits supplementary reading of older English fiction and close reading by those interested in early twentieth-century English long-form narrative. Note that plain-text ebooks usually lack a modern introduction and notes, so learn the fictional climate of the author's time before entering the text. Overall, this is not a book after plot thrills; it suits readers willing to slow down and savor character and language.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in early twentieth-century English fiction
Literary readers who enjoy character psychology and moral situation
Students needing a public-domain English novel for close reading
Readers willing to read slowly and attend to language and dialogue

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking fast plots and strong suspense
Beginners needing modern notes and a detailed introduction
Readers impatient with old-fashioned narrative pacing

Reading tips

Learn the fictional climate of Locke's time before entering the text
Watch for subtext and psychological shifts in characters' dialogue
Keep a character map as you read to clarify emotional and positional lines
Afterward, compare with English novels of the same period for differences in pacing

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 suspense or detective novel?

Judging by the author's consistent bent and the book's classification, it is closer to a study-like narrative of character psychology and moral situation than to a detective novel driven by a case. The 'shadows' in the title are best read as metaphor; don't expect genre suspense.

Will the lack of modern notes affect reading?

This is a public-domain plain-text ebook, usually without a modern introduction or notes. General readers can still follow the main plot and relationships; for period expressions or cultural background, use material on the author's life and early twentieth-century English society.

Is it suitable as an entry to English originals?

The language is early twentieth-century English fiction, with syntax more complex than modern writing and a slow pace. Readers with some experience of long English fiction will enter more easily; if you are just starting English originals, transition through shorter, simpler works first.

Comments

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About the author

Locke, William John, 1863-1930 Author

William John Locke (1863–1930) was a British novelist, with 23 of his works held in this collection. His representative works include The Belovéd Vagabond, The Mountebank, The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol, Septimus, The Rough Road, The White Dove, The Morals of Marcus Ordeyne: a Novel, and Jaffery. Public information about his life is limited, so this entry offers only a brief account based on the works in the collection and the clues they provide. Judging from these titles and the character of the works, Locke's novels are largely character-centered, with brisk plots that often carry a romantic and humorous tone, blending vagabondage, adventure, and social observation, and creating many vividly drawn figures whose fortunes rise and fall. His works found a readership in the early twentieth century, and some were adapted for the stage and screen, leaving a mark on popular literature and general reading.