Goldsmith

William BlackProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 253K 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.Goldsmith by William BlackAuthor: Black, William, 1841-1898,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Jul 27, 2006

Editor's review

This book is a nineteenth-century biography of Goldsmith written by William Black, and serves as a resource for the study of English literature and literary history. As a free electronic text from Project Gutenberg, its chief value lies in offering, in public-domain form, an early critical biography that lets readers observe how nineteenth-century English biographical writing understood and shaped the image of Oliver Goldsmith, an eighteenth-century man of letters. Its account of Goldsmith's life, literary activity, and historical background can serve as supplementary material for studying the history of English literary reception and the tradition of biographical writing. Readers may do well to treat it as a historical document rather than a definitive modern scholarly verdict, and to note the author's period standpoint and narrative interests. The electronic edition is easy to search and excerpt, making it suitable for reading in installments during commutes or between research tasks, and for use alongside Goldsmith's own works.

Who it's for

A good fit for

University students studying English literary history and the tradition of biographical writing
General readers interested in the lives of eighteenth-century English literary figures
Researchers who need a public-domain English biography as a reference text

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a contemporary, scholarly-grade critical biography
Those unaccustomed to nineteenth-century English prose and long-form narrative
Readers seeking detailed textual analysis of Goldsmith's works

Reading tips

Begin with a brief introduction to Goldsmith's major works before entering the biography, so as to read them in dialogue.
Treat the book as historical material rather than final judgment, and note the author's nineteenth-century perspective and evaluative tone.
Use the electronic edition to search names and titles, build a reading index, and then read it 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

Was this book written by Goldsmith himself?

No. This is a biography of Goldsmith written by William Black (1841–1898); Goldsmith is the subject. Readers should distinguish between biographer and subject, and avoid taking the book's assessments as Goldsmith's own views.

Is the electronic edition in English or Chinese?

According to the source, the book is in English and is a public-domain e-book released by Project Gutenberg. The main text is in English, suitable for readers with some English reading ability; Chinese readers may use notes or reference materials to aid comprehension.

Is it suitable for citation in academic papers?

It may be cited as supplementary material on nineteenth-century biographical writing and the reception history of Goldsmith, but it should not be treated as a contemporary authoritative scholarly conclusion. It is advisable to use it alongside modern scholarly biographies and research literature, and to note its historical context and the author's standpoint.

Comments

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About the author

William Black Author · Scottish · 1841–1898

William Black (1841–1898) was a Scottish novelist, born in Glasgow and died in Brighton. He studied painting and worked as a journalist before devoting himself to fiction. His works are known for their vivid depictions of the Scottish Highlands and maritime scenes, written in a graceful style with a strong sense of place. His representative novels include A Princess of Thule, Macleod of Dare, and Sunrise. Seven of his works are held in this collection, among them Judith Shakespeare, Prince Fortunatus, and The Beautiful Wretch, as well as his biography of Goldsmith for the English Men of Letters series. His books were widely popular during his lifetime. Public information on the details of his life is limited, and readers may chiefly come to know his writing through the works mentioned above.