After Taps

Gale, Rachel Baker, 1858-1923Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.7

Word count: 102K words
Chapters: 11

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.After Taps by George M. Baker and Rachel Baker GaleAuthor: Gale, Rachel Baker, 1858-1923,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Jun 27, 2015

Editor's review

This work, co-authored by George M. Baker and Rachel Baker Gale, falls under the category of American and Canadian literature and circulates as a free electronic edition through Project Gutenberg. It is not long and carries the feel and dramatic narrative traces of nineteenth-century English-language literature, making it a light sample for understanding popular English-language literature of that period. Its reading value lies not in complexity of plot but in the authentic presentation of language style, period attitudes, and narrative pacing; it is of reference value to readers studying American literature or practicing English reading. Because it is a public-domain e-book without modern annotation, readers must adapt to old-fashioned spelling and expression on their own. It is best read as a short piece or as literary-historical material, with background research to understand the character relationships and period context, rather than as something to finish in one sitting.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who want to become familiar with nineteenth-century English through short original works
Students studying American and Canadian literature who need public-domain text samples
English readers who enjoy free e-books and are willing to accept old-fashioned spelling

Not a good fit for

English beginners expecting modern annotation, introductions, and vocabulary lists
Readers who prefer fast-paced plots and lack patience for old-fashioned expression

Reading tips

Read through once for the general meaning, then a second time to look up unfamiliar words and period background.
Read alongside other nineteenth-century American short works to appreciate differences in language.
After reading, briefly note the character relationships and narrative structure to better understand the dramatic style.

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 suitable for practicing English reading?

It can serve as advanced practice material, but it is a nineteenth-century English text with older spelling and syntax and no modern annotation. It suits readers with some English foundation who are willing to look up words; beginners are advised to start with adapted versions or annotated readers.

Why does the electronic edition have no modern introduction?

The book comes from Project Gutenberg's public-domain e-book project, which generally presents texts as originally published, focusing on providing the original content for free rather than adding modern editorial notes, introductions, or exercises; readers therefore need to supplement background information themselves.

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About the author

Gale, Rachel Baker, 1858-1923 Author · 1858–1923

Rachel Baker Gale (1858–1923) is an author about whom very little biographical information has survived; public records are limited, and her nationality, occupation, and educational background remain difficult to verify. What can be confirmed is that she is known to later readers through the book After Taps, the only work of hers held in this collection. Judging from the title, the work appears to relate to military life or camp routine, and may involve army daily life, soldiers' emotions, or personal experiences set against a background of war, placing it among narratives themed on military life. Owing to a lack of reviews and edition information, it is hard to determine her specific writing style or literary standing, yet it is possible to see that Gale attended to the emotional world of soldiers and the order of everyday life, with a style that seems plain and sincere. For researchers, she remains a marginal author worth noting but still awaiting further historical discovery.