Burnham Breaker

Greene, Homer, 1853-1940Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.2

Word count: 558K words
Chapters: 56

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.Burnham Breaker by Homer GreeneAuthor: Greene, Homer, 1853-1940,Language: English, Class: PZ: Language and Literatures: Juvenile belles lettres, Release Date: Dec 1, 2003

Editor's review

Burnham Breaker is a juvenile literary work by Homer Greene and a classic title in the public-domain ebook collection of Project Gutenberg. Greene was born in the mid-nineteenth century, and his works often focus on the growth and character formation of young people; this book continues that vein, centering on the protagonist's choices and sense of responsibility in adversity. As a juvenile novel published more than a century ago, its value lies not in thrilling plots but in a plain and solid narrative of moral growth: the hesitations and decisions characters face regarding duty, temptation, and friendship still allow readers today to see themselves reflected. The language bears the clear imprint of late-nineteenth-century English children's literature—longer sentences and more formal diction—making it suitable as introductory material for English learners approaching early juvenile fiction. In terms of reading context, it suits a quiet afternoon spent following the protagonist through the rhythms of classical narrative, and it also works as material for parent-child reading or classroom discussion, guiding young readers to think about the relationship between responsibility and growth. Note that this is an original English public-domain book; domestic readers need some English reading ability to understand it smoothly.

Who it's for

A good fit for

English learners hoping to encounter late-nineteenth-century English juvenile fiction
Parents interested in themes of youthful character growth and seeking parent-child reading material
Readers studying early English children's literature and the public-domain ebook ecosystem
Readers who enjoy classical narratives with a gentle pace and emphasis on inner life and moral choices

Not a good fit for

Readers with weak English foundations who need a Chinese translation to assist reading
Readers who prefer strong plots, fast pacing, or modern subject matter
Readers who find nineteenth-century formal English sentences taxing and lack patience for them

Reading tips

Read through one chapter first to get used to the sentence rhythms of late-nineteenth-century English, then gradually increase your pace.
Jot down each choice the protagonist faces as you read, tracing the thread of his character growth.
If reading with a child, discuss in Chinese after each chapter whether the characters' choices are reasonable.
When you meet unfamiliar expressions, guess from context first and look them up after finishing the passage, so as not to break the rhythm.

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 English level is this book suitable for?

The original was written for late-nineteenth-century English juvenile readers, with longer sentences and more formal diction; it is not modern simplified English. It is recommended for readers with intermediate or higher English reading ability who can work through long sentences with a dictionary; beginners should use annotations or a translation as support.

Is this book in Chinese or English?

This is the original English public-domain ebook released by Project Gutenberg, with the main text in English and no Chinese translation. Domestic readers need some English foundation or should use a dictionary or辅助工具.

What type of content does the book emphasize?

According to the Project Gutenberg classification, the book falls under juvenile literature, centering on a young protagonist's experiences and character growth. The narrative is relatively gentle and emphasizes inner moral choices rather than adventurous, exciting plot.

Do I need to know about the author beforehand to read this book?

Not necessarily. Homer Greene's works mainly deal with youthful growth themes, and you can understand the story by going straight into the text. If you want to learn more, you can look up the author's life and background on American juvenile literature of the same period after finishing.

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About the author

Greene, Homer, 1853-1940 Author

Homer Greene (1853-1940) was an American author about whom public information is limited, and details of his life are now difficult to trace. Nine of his works are held in the collection, mostly centering on American history and mining life, with elements of coming-of-age and adventure stories. Representative works include Whispering Tongues, Burnham Breaker, The Blind Brother: A Story of the Pennsylvania Coal Mines, Pickett's Gap, The Flag, A Lincoln Conscript, A Tale of the Tow-Path, and The Riverpark Rebellion. These works show that Greene drew on real historical settings, weaving the Civil War, the Lincoln era, and the conditions of coal miners into his plots. His narratives emphasize suspense and turns of fate, and his plain yet moving style suits young readers. His writing has some value in popularizing history and portraying ordinary people's choices amid great events, but because his life and books have long lacked systematic study, scholarly attention remains limited and further exploration is needed.