Broad Grins

George Colman the YoungerProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.8

Word count: 74K words
Chapters: 8

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. Broad Grins by George Colman. Author: Colman, George, 1762-1836. Language: English. Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature. Release Date: May 11, 2008

Editor's review

Broad Grins is a work by the British playwright George Colman, released by Project Gutenberg as a public-domain eBook. Judging from the title and the author's identity, it is an English literary work with a humorous, playful tone, and serves as a window into the popular genres and comic tastes of late eighteenth- to early nineteenth-century Britain. As a public-domain text, it is freely accessible and easy to reread, and is also suitable as supplementary material for courses in English literary history. When reading, pay attention to the wordplay, exaggerated characters, and period satire, which often reveal the work's interest more than the plot itself. Because modern annotations are lacking, some slang and allusions require readers to look them up themselves; reading alongside background material on British literary history is recommended so that language barriers do not cause the jokes to be missed.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers studying or taking courses in British literary history who want to encounter lesser-known texts
Those who enjoy British humor and satirical language and are willing to look up allusions
Learners who need free public-domain English materials for supplementary reading
Enthusiasts interested in the popular genres of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Britain

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a full plot-driven novel who prefer strong storytelling
Those with weak English foundations who are unwilling to deal with unfamiliar slang
Beginners hoping for modern annotations and detailed introductions

Reading tips

Read the preface or table of contents first to understand the structure, then read section by section to reduce the language burden.
Mark slang and allusions as you go, and consult British literary history materials afterward.
Read some passages aloud to appreciate the rhythm and comic tone.

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 a novel or some other genre?

Judging from the playwright identity of George Colman and the title, it is closer to humorous essays or a comic genre than to a long plotted novel. Readers are advised to open the original table of contents to confirm the specific format before deciding on a reading order.

Can I understand the humor without annotations?

Some of the humor depends on period slang and allusions, which may be missed on a direct reading. It is recommended to mark passages you do not understand as you read and to consult background material on eighteenth- and nineteenth-century British society and drama; comprehension will improve noticeably.

Is the public-domain edition suitable for classroom use?

As a free public-domain text, it is suitable as supplementary material for literary history courses, but teachers need to supply background annotations and guide the selection of passages. It is not recommended as a main textbook without guidance.

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About the author

George Colman the Younger Author · British · 1762–1836

George Colman (1762–1836), commonly known as George Colman the Younger, was a British playwright and theatre manager. Born in London, he was the son of George Colman the Elder and took over the Haymarket Theatre in 1789, writing comedies, operas and melodramas while managing the theatre. His plays range widely in subject: comedies of English manners such as John Bull, operas such as Inkle and Yarico, historical and dramatic pieces such as The Surrender of Calais and The Battle of Hexham, and lighter works such as Broad Grins. From 1824 until his death he served as Examiner of Plays, a post in which he was known for strictness. Public information on his life and work is limited; scholars generally place his plays within the popular theatrical tradition of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.