Every Man for Himself

Norman DuncanProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 340K words
Chapters: 35

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.Every Man for Himself by Norman DuncanAuthor: Duncan, Norman, 1871-1916,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Aug 7, 2011

Editor's review

This work comes from the Canadian writer Norman Duncan and belongs to the early twentieth-century North American tradition of short narratives set at sea and on the frontier; readers can sense the era's plain-spoken writing about survival, duty, and personal choice. As a public-domain electronic edition, its value lies not in textual refinement but in giving readers very low-cost access to an English-language writer who is now seldom mentioned. The book is written in English, is short, and suits extensive reading in English literature as well as readers interested in North American regionalist writing, seafaring, or frontier stories who want to explore further. Readers should not expect the complex psychological depiction of modern fiction; it is better treated as a slice of its time: observe how characters choose in difficult circumstances and what attitude the narrator takes toward the theme of every man for himself. For readers studying the circulation of public-domain ebooks, this book is also a concrete sample that can be read alongside background material on Project Gutenberg.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who want low-cost extensive reading of English short fiction
Literature enthusiasts interested in North American regionalist writing
Readers studying the circulation of public-domain ebooks
General readers who prefer seafaring or frontier stories

Not a good fit for

Readers who need a Chinese translation or bilingual edition
Readers expecting a modern psychological realist novel
Beginners with limited tolerance for reading English originals

Reading tips

Read through once to grasp the narrative rhythm, then go back and sort out the characters' choices in key situations.
Read alongside historical material on Project Gutenberg to understand the background of this electronic edition.
Mark unfamiliar nautical or regional terms first and look them up afterward rather than interrupting the narrative.
If time is limited, read the opening and ending first to grasp the thematic tone before deciding whether to read the whole text.

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?

Not very. The original is in English and has period language features, so beginners may struggle with vocabulary and syntax. It is better attempted by readers with intermediate or higher English reading ability who can tolerate occasional unfamiliar words; if you only want to know the story, look for a Chinese summary first.

Is this a Chinese book or an English book?

This is an English-language work by the Canadian writer Norman Duncan, originally titled Every Man for Himself. The publisher information in the entry points to Project Gutenberg, a public-domain ebook, not a Chinese translation; it must be read in the English original.

How is the edition quality, and is it worth reading?

As a public-domain ebook, it is not known for careful textual scholarship and may contain issues left over from old typesetting. Its appeal is low cost and easy availability; it suits extensive reading and as supplementary reading for literary-historical interest rather than as a first-choice base text for close scholarly study.

Comments

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About the author

Norman Duncan Author · Canadian · 1871–1916

Norman Duncan (1871–1916) was a Canadian writer, journalist and teacher, born in Brantford, Ontario. He worked for the New York Evening Post and made several trips to Newfoundland and Labrador, where he observed the lives of local fishermen and the work of medical missions at sea, experiences that became an important source for his writing. He produced more than twenty books, including Doctor Luke of the Labrador, Harbor Tales Down North and Billy Topsail & Company: A Story for Boys; eleven of his works are held in this collection. His writing draws mainly on northern harbors and the daily life of fishermen, blending adventure with themes of personal growth and moral development, and is marked by plain language and a focus on character forged in harsh conditions. Public information is limited, and further details of his life remain to be verified.