Goat-Feathers

Butler, Ellis Parker, 1869-1937Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.6

Word count: 19K words
Chapters: 2

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.Goat-Feathers by Ellis Parker ButlerAuthor: Butler, Ellis Parker, 1869-1937,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Mar 22, 2009

Editor's review

Goat-Feathers is a light comic work by the American humorist Ellis Parker Butler, part of the public-domain literature of gentle comedy. Butler is known for his short humorous pieces, and this work likewise features exaggerated situations and a teasing tone, well suited to casual reading in spare moments. Unlike solemn, weighty literature, its value lies in offering an entertaining reading experience, letting readers feel the cadence and joke structure of early twentieth-century American popular humor. For readers who want to explore offbeat classics or need light English material, this book is an accessible choice. There is no need to parse every word; simply follow the dialogue and situational reversals. If the humor feels remote, it can also be read as a linguistic sample of its era, observing how humor was constructed at the time.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers looking for light, humorous English reading for spare moments
Readers interested in early twentieth-century American popular humor
Office workers who need short, light reading material rather than a long book
Literature enthusiasts looking to expand their list of obscure public-domain works

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting serious themes, deep character portrayal, or social critique
Readers unfamiliar with early American humor who may miss the jokes
Learners seeking systematic literary guidance or detailed annotations

Reading tips

Read in short installments, one or two sections at a time, without forcing a continuous read-through.
When a joke feels remote, skip it first and revisit the situational reversal after finishing the piece.
Read dialogue passages aloud to feel the colloquial rhythm of early American humor.
After reading, note one or two structures you find interesting as reference for English writing.

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 a short-story collection?

Given Butler's characteristic strength in short humor, the book is closer to light short pieces or sketch-like narrative, suited to reading in segments. For the specific structure, consult the table of contents; readers can read each piece independently without relying on continuity.

What if I don't understand the humor?

Early American humor often relies on exaggerated situations and period context, so finding it remote is normal. Read one piece first to grasp the plot reversal, then revisit the teasing in the dialogue; you can also treat it as a language sample, observing the expressions of the time without forcing yourself to laugh at every point.

Is it suitable for learning English?

It can serve as supplementary material, but not as a systematic textbook. Its dialogue and colloquial expressions help develop a feel for the language, but it lacks annotations and exercises. Read mainly for interest, look up unfamiliar words as needed, and avoid intensive word-by-word study that would spoil the light mood.

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About the author

Butler, Ellis Parker, 1869-1937 Author

Ellis Parker Butler (1869-1937) was an American writer whose life is not widely documented in Chinese-language sources, and public information about him is limited. The library holds 22 of his works, including novels and humorous short stories that often draw on everyday misunderstandings, awkward situations, and the experiences of ordinary people. He is best known for "Pigs is Pigs," a widely read tale about an absurd dispute over railway shipping of guinea pigs, celebrated for its exaggerated bureaucratic logic and light touch. "Philo Gubb, Correspondence-School Detective" features a self-taught amateur detective and gently parodies detective fiction. Other works, such as "The Water Goats, and Other Troubles," "The Great American Pie Company," "The Jack-Knife Man," and "Swatty," likewise show his talent for mild satire of small-town life, family matters, and human foibles. His easy, comic style, skilled dialogue, and plot twists give him a modest place in American popular humor.