Flemington

Jacob, Violet, 1863-1946Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.5

Word count: 457K words
Chapters: 46

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. Flemington by Violet Jacob. Author: Jacob, Violet, 1863-1946. Language: English. Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature. Release Date: Aug 15, 2017

Editor's review

Flemington is a full-length work by Violet Jacob, classified under English literature. Jacob was a Scottish writer whose work often carries a strong sense of place and finely observed characters; this novel is best understood within the tradition of Scottish regional writing and nineteenth- to twentieth-century British fiction. When reading, pay attention to how the narrator handles the rural setting, family relationships, and the characters' fates, as these are often the focal points of Jacob's work. As a public-domain ebook from Project Gutenberg, it suits readers who deliberately enter its literary-historical context rather than those seeking a plot-driven leisure read. It is advisable to first grasp the basic background and character relationships before moving into the main text, which will make the narrative rhythm easier to follow. If used for a course or reading group, discussion questions can be built around local identity and characters' choices.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in English literature and Scottish regional writing
Teachers who need a public-domain English text for course or reading-group materials
Readers who enjoy slower-paced novels rich in character and setting

Not a good fit for

Readers of popular fiction seeking strong plot and fast-paced narrative
Readers with limited English reading experience who are uncomfortable with long sentences and old-fashioned expressions
Beginners hoping for a detailed author biography or annotations

Reading tips

Read the opening two chapters first and sort out the main characters and locations before continuing.
Note how descriptions of the setting correspond to characters' emotions, and keep brief notes.
If used for a reading group, divide the work around three themes: character relationships, local identity, and choices of fate.
For extensive reading in English, summarize each chapter in two or three sentences afterward to avoid getting lost in details.

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 this book in, and how difficult is it to read?

This is Violet Jacob's original English text, released by Project Gutenberg; the language is English, and it falls under the category of English literature. The text bears the linguistic features of its period, with many long sentences and old-fashioned expressions, so it is recommended for readers with some foundation in reading long English fiction.

Do I need to understand the Scottish background first?

Systematic prior study is not necessary, but knowing that the work has a Scottish regional flavor helps in understanding the relationship between characters and setting. While reading, treat the local atmosphere as part of the narrative rather than mere background decoration.

Is it suitable for a reading group?

Yes. The work's length and character relationships are enough to support discussion, and topics can be built around local identity, family relationships, and characters' choices of fate. It is advisable to assign chapters in advance and have members each record one setting description that struck them most.

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About the author

Jacob, Violet, 1863-1946 Author

Violet Jacob (1863–1946) was a writer rooted in the soil of Scotland, though public information about her is limited and many details of her life remain little known to Chinese readers. Four of her works are held in the collection: the novels Flemington, Irresolute Catherine and The Sheep-Stealers, and the poetry collection Songs of Angus and More Songs of Angus. These works show that her writing drew largely on the rural life and history of eastern Scotland, with a plain and richly local tone, and that she excelled at portraying the fates and feelings of country people through delicate narrative. Her poems have a ballad-like rhythm and clear language, revealing a deep affection for the land and its scenery. Her writing holds a place in the tradition of Scottish regional literature, and through her novels and poetry readers can sense the life and historical resonance of that region.