Bluebeard

Johnson, Clifton, 1865-1940Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 88K words
Chapters: 9

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.Bluebeard by Clifton JohnsonAuthor: Johnson, Clifton, 1865-1940,Language: English, Class: PZ: Language and Literatures: Juvenile belles lettres, Release Date: Sep 17, 2011

Editor's review

This book is Clifton Johnson's English-language adaptation of the classic folktale Bluebeard, published free by Project Gutenberg under the juvenile literature category. The story centers on a forbidden room and a bloodstained key; it is short and plainly written, making it a good entry point to Western folk narrative. For English learners, it offers accessible reading in the original; for readers interested in the forms and transmission of fairy tales, it serves as a typical case. Note that this is an early electronic text whose formatting and illustrations depend on the source file; readers should treat it as a public-domain classic rather than a modern picture book. Comparing it with Perrault's or the Grimms' versions while reading, and noting differences in detail across adaptations, is more rewarding than simply finishing the story.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Lower-intermediate English learners who want to practice reading with a short original text
General readers interested in Western folk tales and fairy-tale archetypes
Teachers who need short materials for read-aloud or classroom discussion

Not a good fit for

Parents of young children expecting a modern illustrated picture book or hardcover children's book
Readers looking for a long fantasy novel or complex plot

Reading tips

Read through once for the plot, then look up new words to avoid breaking the rhythm.
After reading, compare with the Bluebeard tale in Perrault or the Grimms and note plot differences.
For English study, select dialogue passages for read-aloud and retelling practice.

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 English beginners?

Fairly suitable. The story is short and the sentence structures are not complex; it is an English reader in the juvenile literature category, and lower-intermediate learners can finish it with a dictionary. However, the text is old, and some wording differs from modern English, so an annotated edition or a translation for comparison is recommended.

Does this edition have illustrations?

The materials do not say whether this electronic edition retains illustrations. Project Gutenberg texts are mainly plain text, and some editions may not include the original book's illustrations; readers should rely on the actual downloaded file and should not assume it is a picture book.

Is the Bluebeard story suitable for telling to children?

The story contains elements such as a forbidden room and a terrible ending, and adaptations vary widely in how much they soften these. Before telling it to young children, parents should read the full text and judge whether it suits the child's level, or choose a softened version.

Comments

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About the author

Johnson, Clifton, 1865-1940 Author

Clifton Johnson (1865–1940) was an American author and illustrator; public information on his life and education is limited. Two of his works are held in this collection: The New England Country and Bluebeard. The New England Country belongs to the genre of regional writing, typically combining text with illustrations to record the scenery, people and daily life of rural New England, in a plain style with careful observation, resembling local lore and sketches of customs. Bluebeard draws on a widely known folk tale, showing that his writing was not confined to a single genre but also extended to the retelling of traditional stories. Overall, Johnson's works tend to focus on regional life and folk narrative, in a simple style close to readers, and are suitable for readers interested in North American rural themes and folk tales.