Benefactor

Smith, George H. (George Henry), 1922-1996Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.8

Word count: 5.3K words
Chapters: 1

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.Benefactor by George H. SmithAuthor: Smith, George H. (George Henry), 1922-1996,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: May 20, 2009

Editor's review

Benefactor is a short work by George H. Smith, prepared by Project Gutenberg as a public-domain ebook. Its classification places it in American and Canadian literature; it is brief and tightly focused, making it a light entry point for readers curious about mid-twentieth-century English-language short fiction. The available materials offer no plot details, so it is best not to assume a thematic direction; what can be said is that it rewards close reading rather than functioning as a genre bestseller. Readers might watch how the relationship between the narrator and the "benefactor" is gradually revealed, and how the author accomplishes a shift in attitude within a limited space. For general readers, it suits a single sitting on a commute or before bed; for writers learning the craft, it can serve as an exercise in analyzing short-story structure. With no contemporary introduction included, readers will need to supply the author's and period's background on their own.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who want short English fiction for fragmented time
Writing enthusiasts studying short-story structure and character development
General readers interested in mid-twentieth-century American literature
Learners who need public-domain English texts for reading practice

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting long, complex plots and vast worldbuilding
Researchers who need detailed author biography and scholarly annotations
Readers who prefer contemporary subjects and fast-paced narrative

Reading tips

Read once for plot, then reread and mark sentences that signal shifts in the narrator's attitude.
After finishing, summarize in one paragraph what "benefactor" means in the story to test your understanding.
Compare it with other public-domain short stories of similar length to see how they arrange turns and endings.
English learners can read the text aloud and compile vocabulary, paying attention to how dialogue drives the plot.

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

How long is this story?

As a public-domain short story, it is brief and can usually be read in one or two sittings. Exact page count varies by layout and electronic format; after downloading, check the table of contents or word count before planning your reading time.

Can I understand it without knowing the author's background?

You can follow the plot, but understanding will be limited. Spend a few minutes before reading on common themes and techniques in mid-twentieth-century American short fiction, and look up the author's life afterward to better grasp the work's place.

Is it suitable for learning English?

It suits intermediate learners and above. The text is a public-domain English original; the language is not especially difficult but contains period usage. Read with a dictionary and pay attention to tone and elliptical expressions in dialogue.

Why does the recommended edition have no introduction?

Project Gutenberg focuses on providing free public-domain original texts and usually adds no contemporary introduction or annotations. Readers who want background can consult literary histories or compare with an edition that includes an introduction.

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About the author

Smith, George H. (George Henry), 1922-1996 Author

George H. Smith (George Henry Smith, 1922–1996) was an author best known for military and adventure fiction; reliable public information about his life and nationality is limited. Five of his works are held in this collection: The Last Crusade, Benefactor, Witness, Narakan Rifles, About Face! and The Ordeal of Colonel Johns. Judging from these titles, he often wrote about war, military life and moral testing, placing characters in extreme situations where they must make difficult choices, with the tension typical of adventure fiction. The Ordeal of Colonel Johns and Narakan Rifles, About Face! in particular suggest an interest in army life and the psychology of soldiers, while Witness and Benefactor hint at themes of bearing witness, responsibility and conscience. Because biographical material is scarce, his style and influence can only be inferred roughly from these works, and readers should form their own view from the texts themselves.