Famous Authors

Harkins, E. F. (Edward Francis), 1872-Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.6

Word count: 255K words
Chapters: 26

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.Famous Authors (Men) by E. F. HarkinsAuthor: Harkins, E. F. (Edward Francis), 1872-,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Apr 28, 2014

Editor's review

This book is Famous Authors (Men) by E. F. Harkins, a public-domain text in the American and Canadian literature category (PS class), released in electronic form by Project Gutenberg. Its value lies not in providing in-depth biographies of any single writer, but in offering a concentrated introduction to a group of male authors from an earlier English-language perspective, presenting the framework and evaluative tastes through which readers of that time understood the concept of "famous authors." For those studying the history of literary reception, publishing history, or English prose style, it is a usable primary-source reader, and it can also serve as introductory material for understanding the literary common knowledge of the English-speaking world from the late nineteenth to the early twentieth century. It should be noted that the book was written quite early, and its views and selections bear obvious period limitations; its evaluative judgments should not be taken directly as today's scholarly conclusions. The electronic edition has no modern annotations or introduction, so readers need some background in literary history. It is suitable for extensive reading with note-taking, not as a sole reference.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in English literary history and anecdotes about authors
Beginning students of literary reception history and publishing history
Advanced learners who want to practice English reading through original texts
E-book enthusiasts who collect public-domain electronic texts

Not a good fit for

Researchers who need authoritative scholarly biographies and detailed annotations
Readers seeking contemporary literary-critical perspectives
Beginners with weak English who rely on Chinese translations and notes

Reading tips

Start by reading the table of contents and selecting chapters on authors you know, then return to the sections on unfamiliar authors.
Jot down the book's evaluative judgments as you go and compare them with current prevailing views.
Use it as bedtime casual reading, one or two chapters at a time, without insisting on reading it straight through.

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 complete collection of author biographies?

No. It is an early introductory text on authors, limited in both length and depth, closer to a compilation of personal sketches and literary common knowledge, and it cannot replace modern scholarly biographies. Readers should treat it as a historical source rather than an authoritative reference work.

Does the electronic edition have annotations or an introduction?

According to the available information, this edition was released by Project Gutenberg as a public-domain electronic text, and no modern annotations or introduction are mentioned. If historical figures and works are unclear while reading, readers are advised to consult reference works separately.

How difficult is the English?

The original is English prose from the late nineteenth to early twentieth century, with relatively long sentences and somewhat old-fashioned wording, but it is generally popular introductory writing. Readers with college-level English reading ability can attempt it, and may skim over unfamiliar names of people and places.

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About the author

Harkins, E. F. (Edward Francis), 1872- Author · American · 1872

E. F. Harkins (Edward Francis Harkins, born 1872) was an American writer and editor. Public information about his life is limited; he is known chiefly for biographical sketches and essays on men of letters, and two of his works are held in the collection. In Little Pilgrimages Among the Men Who Have Written Famous Books, he makes small “pilgrimages” to the lives and writing surroundings of authors of famous books, combining biographical detail with the charm of the familiar essay. Famous Authors gathers profiles of well-known writers in plain prose, linking each figure’s experience to the background of his work. Writing for general readers, Harkins turns literary history into readable personal narrative and helps readers see classic works in relation to the authors who produced them.