Beulah

Evans, Augusta J. (Augusta Jane), 1835-1909Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.1

Word count: 965K words
Chapters: 97

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.Beulah by Augusta J. EvansAuthor: Evans, Augusta J. (Augusta Jane), 1835-1909,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Jul 1, 2003

Editor's review

Beulah is a novel by the American Southern writer Augusta Jane Evans. Its title comes from the word "Beulah" in the Book of Isaiah, meaning "married," and in literary tradition it is often used as a symbol of a place of rest or the soul's final home. The novel centers on the heroine's growth, struggles of faith, and emotional choices, bearing the strong flavor of nineteenth-century sentimental fiction and religious speculation: the characters often waver between worldly desire and spiritual aspiration, and the ups and downs of their fates are interspersed with extensive discussion of morality and faith. Evans's writing values inner portrayal and emotional tension, and the plot often advances through letters, monologues, and dramatic turns, making it appealing to readers who enjoy classical romance and religious themes. It can also serve as a sample for understanding nineteenth-century American Southern women's writing and the tastes of popular literature. As you read, note how the author uses religious imagery to organize the narrative and how she expresses her understanding of women's circumstances within sentimental conventions; at the same time, be aware that its style and pacing are far removed from the modern novel, and patience will be rewarded.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy nineteenth-century English romance and sentimental fiction
Readers interested in religious themes and narratives of faith struggles
Readers studying American Southern women's writing and popular literature
English-language readers who can accept a classical style and considerable length

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer fast-paced plots and concise modern narration
People who are rather averse to religious discussion and moralizing content
Beginners with weak English reading skills who need extensive annotations for support

Reading tips

First understand the symbolic meaning of "Beulah" in religious literature, which helps in understanding the title and theme.
Treat the heroine's changes in faith as the main thread and sort out her several key choices.
When encountering long passages of discussion, skim them first and return to them later, so as to avoid losing the rhythm midway.
It can be read in comparison with American women's novels of the same period to appreciate the common features of popular literature.

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 does the title "Beulah" mean?

"Beulah" comes from the Book of Isaiah and originally means "married." In the English literary tradition it is often used to refer to a place of rest or the home of the soul. This book uses it to symbolize the heroine's process of seeking settledness in emotion and faith.

Is this book suitable as English-learning reading material?

It is a nineteenth-century English novel with rather long sentences and many religious terms, so it is not very suitable for complete beginners. Readers who already have some reading experience and want to encounter the style of classical fiction can try it, and it will go more smoothly with annotations or a translation for comparison.

What themes does the novel mainly explore?

It mainly revolves around the heroine's growth, emotional choices, and struggles of faith, and also touches on the tension between worldly pursuits and spiritual home. Through the characters' fates the author discusses morality, religion, and women's circumstances, with sentimental color and speculative discussion equally emphasized.

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About the author

Evans, Augusta J. (Augusta Jane), 1835-1909 Author

Augusta J. Evans (1835–1909) was a nineteenth-century American novelist. Public information about her is limited; she is known to have nine works, including Inez: A Tale of the Alamo, St. Elmo, Macaria, Beulah, Vashti Or, Until Death Us Do Part, Devota, Infelice, and At the Mercy of Tiberius. These titles suggest that her fiction drew on historical events and on emotional and moral themes, often centering on women's fates, marriage, and faith, with detailed plotting and a sentimental, didactic tone. Inez is set against the events of the Alamo, showing her interest in history, while works such as St. Elmo revolve around love and family. Her novels are representative of nineteenth-century American popular fiction and offer insight into the creative concerns of women writers of her time.