Fibble, D.D.

Cobb, Irvin S. (Irvin Shrewsbury), 1876-1944Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.5

Word count: 272K words
Chapters: 28

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.Fibble, D.D. by Irvin S. CobbAuthor: Cobb, Irvin S. (Irvin Shrewsbury), 1876-1944,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Nov 4, 2008

Editor's review

Fibble, D.D. is a humorous novel by Irvin S. Cobb centered on a clergyman named Fibble, using satire to depict small-town American life and human nature. Cobb was a popular American humorist of the early twentieth century; his narration is brisk, his dialogue lively, and he excels at generating comedy through exaggeration and irony while never losing a gentle understanding of human affairs. The book is short and serves well as an introduction to the American humor tradition, and is also suited to casual reading in spare moments such as commutes or before bed. Readers need not seek tight plotting; what stands out more is the wit in the characters' conversation and the atmosphere of the era. As a free eBook from Project Gutenberg, it is easily accessible and suits readers who want an easy entry into classic English popular literature. Note that the language bears the marks of the early twentieth century, and some slang and allusions may feel remote to contemporary readers.

Who it's for

A good fit for

English-speaking readers who enjoy American humor and satirical literature
Readers who want light English reading in spare moments
Readers interested in small-town American life in the early twentieth century
Learners seeking low-cost access to public-domain eBooks

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer serious literature and profound social critique
Readers with weak English skills unaccustomed to early English expression
Readers seeking strong plot and suspenseful pacing

Reading tips

Read a chapter or two first to get a feel for the humorous tone, then decide whether to read the whole book
Don't stop at unfamiliar slang; use context to grasp the general meaning
Learn a little about early twentieth-century American small-town life to deepen understanding
Read a short section at bedtime or during commutes, keeping a relaxed mindset

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 really for absolute beginners. The dialogue and narration carry early twentieth-century English usage, and some slang and allusions require a certain vocabulary and cultural background to appreciate. Readers with some English reading ability who are willing to look up background will read more smoothly.

Is this a novel or a short story collection?

Based on available information, this is a novel centered on the character Fibble; the specific structure is not detailed. Readers may regard it as a humorous narrative work of moderate length rather than a collection of linked short stories.

Why recommend this public-domain book?

It comes from Project Gutenberg, is free and easy to obtain, and the author Cobb was a well-known early twentieth-century American humorist. For readers who want an easy entry into classic English popular literature without spending much, it is a suitable choice.

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About the author

Cobb, Irvin S. (Irvin Shrewsbury), 1876-1944 Author

Irvin S. Cobb (1876–1944) was an American humorist and war correspondent. The library holds twenty-five of his works, which fall roughly into two groups. One is set in a fictional Kentucky town, including Old Judge Priest, Back Home and Fibble, D.D., where characters such as Judge Priest bring Southern local life and manners to the page in a humorous yet warm tone. The other consists of reports and sketches from the First World War, such as The Glory of the Coming, Paths of Glory and Europe Revised, marked by close observation and unhurried narration. His prose stands between the humorous sketch and news reportage, often using colloquial dialogue and exaggerated detail for effect. Public information is limited, so this note describes his writing only as reflected in the works held here.