Christ Legends

Lagerlöf, Selma, 1858-1940Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.0

Word count: 297K words
Chapters: 30

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.Christuslegenden by Selma LagerlöfAuthor: Lagerlöf, Selma, 1858-1940,Language: Dutch, Class: PZ: Language and Literatures: Juvenile belles lettres, Release Date: Dec 25, 2013

Editor's review

Lagerlöf is known for her novels and fairy tales, and in this work she retells legendary narratives围绕基督, in plain language with the rhythm of folk tales. Its appeal lies not in scholarship but in the storytelling itself: the legends are written close to ordinary people’s emotions and circumstances, combining reverence with warmth, and it serves as an entry point to another side of the author. Note that the main text of this edition is in Dutch, not the original Swedish or an English translation, so readers should first confirm their language ability. The book has special value for those learning Dutch, studying legendary literature, or interested in Lagerlöf’s creative genealogy; those who simply want to enjoy the stories easily should look for a suitable translation. Read it as a series of short pieces, one or two at a time, and note changes in characters’ circumstances and narrative tone.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers with Dutch reading ability who want to encounter legendary literature
Research-oriented readers interested in the full range of Lagerlöf’s work
Intermediate to advanced learners of Dutch who need graded literary material
Readers who enjoy retellings of folk legends and religious stories

Not a good fit for

General readers with no Dutch foundation who only want to read a Chinese translation
Readers expecting a long, continuous novel plot
People uninterested in religious legendary material

Reading tips

First confirm that the main text is in Dutch, then decide whether to read closely or selectively according to your language ability.
Read one or two pieces at a time and retell the main plot points afterward to avoid blurring impressions from reading too much at once.
Compare with similar legends you already know and note Lagerlöf’s choices in handling her material.
Language learners can excerpt short sentences and read them aloud to become familiar with the sentence patterns and rhythm of folk narrative.

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 language is the main text of this book in?

According to the data, this edition is in Dutch, not the original Swedish and not a Chinese translation. Before purchasing or downloading, confirm that you can read Dutch or prepare a parallel translation for reference.

Can I read it without having read other works by Lagerlöf?

Yes. These legendary narratives are relatively independent and do not depend on earlier works. Knowing her overall style helps, but it is not a prerequisite for reading.

Is this book suitable for children?

The subject matter consists of legends and religious stories, some of which require a certain cultural background. Whether it suits children depends on the child’s language ability and parental guidance; it is advisable to look through it yourself before deciding.

Comments

Find this book

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Lagerlöf, Selma, 1858-1940 Author

Selma Lagerlöf (1858–1940) was a Swedish writer whose work is distinguished by a rich imagination and a gift for reworking folk legend. The library holds 32 of her works, including The Story of Gösta Berling and The Wonderful Adventures of Nils. The former draws on tales of old Värmland and follows the joys and sorrows of a band of wandering characters in a romantic, legendary vein; the latter, through the journey of the boy Nils flying across Sweden with wild geese, blends geography, animals and folk tales into a classic of world children's literature. Works such as Christ Legends and Jerusalem further show her abiding concern with faith, rural life and human nature. Her style combines epic sweep with fairy-tale lightness, and her coming-of-age stories in particular appeal to young readers. Public information is limited; this introduction rests only on the library's holdings and widely accepted literary knowledge.