Digger Smith

Clarence Michael James Dennis (C. J. Dennis)Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.8

Word count: 60K words
Chapters: 6

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.Digger Smith by C. J. DennisAuthor: Dennis, C. J. (Clarence James), 1876-1938,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Apr 2, 2005

Editor's review

Digger Smith is a narrative poem by Australian poet C. J. Dennis set against the backdrop of the First World War. Through the eyes of an ordinary soldier, Smith, it presents scenes of life both behind the lines and at the front. Dennis is known for his colloquial Australian English and light, lively rhythms; the work balances humor and sentiment, depicting the everyday routines and comradeship of soldiers while also touching on parting, longing, and trauma. For readers familiar with English poetry, this work offers a unique window into the mindset and vernacular of Australian society during the First World War; it is short and vividly written, making it suitable as an introduction to English poetry or as supplementary reading for Australian literature. This edition is a public-domain Project Gutenberg e-book, convenient for searching and citation, and suited to reading and note-taking on electronic devices. While reading, pay attention to dialect spellings and rhyme patterns to appreciate how the author uses an accessible tone to carry serious themes.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in First World War literature and soldier themes
English learners who want to learn about Australian English and Australian humor
Those who need a short English narrative poem for teaching or recitation
Readers who prefer public-domain e-books and are used to reading on electronic devices

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting lengthy historical facts or detailed analysis of tactics
Readers who lack patience for poetry and dialect spellings and prefer prose narrative
Beginners who need a Chinese translation or bilingual reading

Reading tips

Read through once to grasp the narrative thread, then go back and read closely for rhyme and dialect words, appreciating the shifts in tone.
It can be read alongside historical background material on the Australian army in WWI to help understand the situations in the poem.
It is suitable for reading aloud chapter by chapter to feel the colloquial rhythm; excerpts can also be used for English classroom discussion.

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 poetry?

It is a narrative poem that tells of soldier Smith's experiences and observations in verse; it is not a prose novel. When reading, you can move forward stanza by stanza and pay attention to rhythm and colloquial expression.

How difficult is the English, and what level is it suitable for?

The language is generally accessible, but it contains Australian colloquial spellings and dialect expressions, which pose some challenge for non-native readers. An intermediate or higher English reading ability is recommended, and a dictionary and notes can help with comprehension.

What are the features of this edition?

This is a public-domain e-book released by Project Gutenberg, freely available and convenient for full-text search and citation. The text is in the original English and is suitable for reading and note-taking on electronic devices.

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About the author

Clarence Michael James Dennis (C. J. Dennis) Author · Australian · 1876–1938

Clarence Michael James Dennis (C. J. Dennis, 1876–1938) was an Australian poet and journalist, born in Auburn, South Australia, and died in Melbourne. He is known for narrative poetry rich in Australian vernacular. His代表作 The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke (1915) was a sensation on publication, acclaimed as Australia's best-selling poetry collection, and earned him the title "laureate of the larrikins." His other works include The Moods of Ginger Mick, The Glugs of Gosh, Digger Smith, and A Book for Kids. From 1922 he wrote a long-running column for the Melbourne Herald. His work draws on the lives and speech of ordinary Australians and is steeped in local colour; public information on his early education and specific experiences is limited.