Across the Stream

Benson, E. F. (Edward Frederic), 1867-1940Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.2

Word count: 545K words
Chapters: 55

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.Across the Stream by E. F. BensonAuthor: Benson, E. F. (Edward Frederic), 1867-1940,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Nov 3, 2011

Editor's review

Across the Stream is a novel in English literature by the British author Edward Frederic Benson. A prolific novelist of the early twentieth century, Benson often wrote about social manners and the supernatural; though this book takes a realistic setting as its title, readers can still sense the narrative pleasures and methods of character portrayal typical of British fiction of that era. As a public-domain eBook from Project Gutenberg, the book's greatest value lies in accessibility: it brings an old work not easily found on the market back into the view of ordinary readers. It suits supplementary English-literature reading and casual browsing by anyone curious about the feel of Edwardian British fiction. When reading, pay attention to how dialogue and scene transitions are handled, and notice how old-style fiction builds relationships and moods through everyday detail. One caveat: this is the original English text, and the Gutenberg edition includes no modern introduction or notes; its language and pacing are somewhat remote for contemporary readers and better suited to those already used to reading in English who are willing to read slowly. It is not an introductory textbook but a literary text open to free exploration.

Who it's for

A good fit for

English readers who want to read British public-domain novels for free
Readers interested in the character of early twentieth-century British fiction
Readers who enjoy slow-paced character-driven narrative and old-fashioned prose
Learners using public-domain eBooks as English extensive-reading material

Not a good fit for

Beginners who need a Chinese translation or sentence-by-sentence notes
Readers who prefer strong plot and fast-paced contemporary fiction
Readers expecting a modern introduction and scholarly annotations

Reading tips

Read the first two chapters to gauge the language difficulty and narrative pace before deciding whether to read the whole book.
Note unfamiliar words and period expressions as you go and look them up together afterward, to avoid interruptions.
Read alongside other Edwardian British novels and compare how character description and social background are presented.

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 the original English?

Yes. This is the original English eBook released by Project Gutenberg, with the main text in English and no Chinese translation. It suits readers with some English reading ability; if you need a Chinese version, you will have to look for a translation separately.

What kinds of works did Benson, the author, also write?

As a matter of public-domain common knowledge, E. F. Benson was a prolific early twentieth-century British writer whose works include social novels and supernatural fiction, as well as memoir-type writing. This book is one of his novels; for specifics, rely on the original text and note the subject matter and style as you read.

Are Gutenberg eBooks suitable for reading on a phone?

Project Gutenberg offers plain-text or eBook files in various formats, usually openable on phones, tablets, or e-readers. Since there is no modern layout or annotation, choose reading software with adjustable fonts and a dictionary function for a more comfortable experience.

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About the author

Benson, E. F. (Edward Frederic), 1867-1940 Author

E. F. Benson (full name Edward Frederic Benson, 1867–1940) was a British writer, though public information about his life and nationality available in our records is limited. The collection holds 42 of his works, spanning a wide range of subjects: social comedies such as Queen Lucia and Miss Mapp, satirical sketches such as The Freaks of Mayfair, and novels including Scarlet and Hyssop, The Relentless City, The Angel of Pain and An Autumn Sowing. His writing is marked by witty dialogue and gentle satire, and he excelled at portraying comic figures in provincial towns and upper-class social circles. Light in tone and neatly constructed, his work has a distinctive place in early twentieth-century British popular fiction and is still enjoyed by readers today.