August First

Murray, Roy IrvingProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.5

Word count: 150K words
Chapters: 15

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.August First by Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews and Roy Irving MurrayAuthor: Murray, Roy Irving,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Jun 7, 2006

Editor's review

August First is a public-domain English literary work in the Project Gutenberg collection, classified under American and Canadian literature. The attribution names Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews and Roy Irving Murray as co-authors, and its length and genre point to narrative fiction. For general readers, its value lies mainly in offering a freely available sample of early English-language literature that sheds light on the themes and tone of early twentieth-century American popular writing. Because public-domain editions lack modern introductions and annotations, readers may encounter obstacles involving period background, place names, and personal names. It is best treated as light reading for exploring public-domain literary resources: browse the opening to see whether the narrative pace suits your taste, then decide between close and casual reading, and do not expect the experience of a contemporary novel.

Who it's for

A good fit for

English-language readers who want free access to early American public-domain literature
Those interested in early twentieth-century popular narrative and short fiction
Learners seeking English public-domain texts for extensive reading practice
Casual readers who prefer short works that can be read in sections

Not a good fit for

Readers who need a Chinese translation or a modern annotated edition to read comfortably
Readers who prefer the structure of contemporary novels and strong plot conflict
Readers seeking systematic research materials on the author's life and works

Reading tips

Read the first two pages to get a feel for the language, then decide between close and casual reading.
Read section by section, noting key characters and events at the end of each chapter.
Skip unfamiliar historical terms at first and look them up together after finishing a passage.
Alternate it with other public-domain short works to keep the reading fresh.

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

What genre is this book?

According to Project Gutenberg's classification, it falls under American and Canadian literature and is a work of narrative fiction. The exact genre should be judged from the text itself; readers can browse the opening chapters to decide.

Why is there no Chinese translation?

This is an English public-domain e-book provided by Project Gutenberg and released free of charge for readers of the original. Chinese readers must use translation tools or read it alongside a translation.

Do I need to know the historical background before reading?

It is not required, but familiarity with early twentieth-century American society and literary context will help. For casual reading, you can start with the text and fill in background information if you hit obstacles.

Comments

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About the author

Murray, Roy Irving Author

Roy Irving Murray is an author of Chinese books about whom very limited public information is currently available. His nationality, dates of birth and death, educational background and professional career are not clearly recorded, and no existing profile is available in our database. According to current records, the only confirmed fact is a single work published under his name, August First. Judging from the title, the book is likely to center on the date of August 1, and may address historical, social or cultural issues associated with it, though its exact subject and genre remain to be verified. Given the lack of verifiable biographical material, readers should not draw hasty conclusions about the overall direction of his writing style, nor infer his creative development from a single title. A more prudent view is to treat this book as a starting point for understanding his choice of subject, while a fuller picture of the author still awaits further public information.