Here and Hereafter

Barry Eric Odell PainProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.2

Word count: 479K words
Chapters: 48

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.Here and Hereafter by Barry PainAuthor: Pain, Barry, 1864-1928,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Feb 5, 2011

Editor's review

Here and Hereafter is a work by the English writer Barry Pain, classified under English literature and circulated as a public-domain ebook through Project Gutenberg. Pain is known for humorous, grotesque, and mildly satirical short pieces and essays, and the title points to the theme of "this world and the next," readily evoking imaginative treatments of the afterlife, the condition of the soul, or the other side of life. Its reading value lies in that blend of English light satire and whimsy: it relies not on grand narrative but on wit and irony for its interest, making it suitable for reading a piece or two in spare moments. For readers interested in late nineteenth- to early twentieth-century English humorous literature, fantastic sketches, or light reading with a philosophical touch, this book offers an effortless but lingering sample. Note that this is the original English edition, and its subject matter and style bear clear marks of its era; readers should approach its narrative manner with an open mind.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy English humor and a lightly satirical tone
Those interested in fantastic sketches on the afterlife and the soul
English readers who want short pieces for fragmented reading time
Readers studying the tradition of English humorous literature and the essay

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting serious theological or philosophical argument
Readers who prefer long, continuous plot-driven novels
Those with weak English who need a Chinese translation

Reading tips

Read piece by piece rather than trying to finish in one sitting, leaving room for afterthought.
Pay attention to the narrator's ironic tone and avoid taking statements in the book as the author's own views.
Jot down the most memorable twists or witticisms afterward to help sort out the themes.
If the afterlife theme interests you, read it alongside other English fantastic sketches for comparison.

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 about the afterlife?

The title points to "this world and the next," and the subject matter does relate to the other side, the soul, or the other aspect of life, but Pain's treatment is mostly humorous and satirical. It should not be read as a serious treatise on the afterlife, but rather as light, imaginative, speculative sketches.

Can I read this book without any English foundation?

This is the original English edition, and an early one, with syntax and vocabulary bearing the marks of its time; readers with weak English will face clear obstacles. Middle-level English reading ability or a dictionary and other aids are recommended, otherwise the reading experience may be poor.

Is this book a novel or a collection of short pieces?

Judging by Pain's style and the book's subject matter, it is closer to a collection of short pieces or sketches that can be read in segments than to a continuous novel. Readers can read piece by piece rather than forcing themselves to go straight through.

What background knowledge is needed to read this book?

No specialized background is necessary. Some familiarity with the general climate of late nineteenth- to early twentieth-century English humorous literature helps, but the book's interest comes mainly from wit and irony; everyday reading experience is enough to enter it, and period expressions can simply be passed over.

Comments

Find this book

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Barry Eric Odell Pain Author · English · 1864–1928

Barry Eric Odell Pain (1864–1928) was a British journalist, poet, humorist and novelist. Born in Cambridge and educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, he contributed from the 1890s to magazines such as Punch and Black and White, and was regarded as one of the earliest writers of the "New Humour." His work ranges widely, from the light, witty Eliza stories to supernatural fiction; representative titles include Here and Hereafter, The New Gulliver, and Other Stories, If Winter Don't, Eliza and Marge Askinforit. Five of his works are held in this collection. Public information about him is limited and many details of his life remain obscure, but his writings show a talent for treating both everyday and supernatural subjects in a brisk, humorous style, giving him a place in British humorous literature of the late Victorian and Edwardian eras.