Humanly Speaking

Samuel McChord CrothersProject 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.Humanly Speaking by Samuel McChord CrothersAuthor: Crothers, Samuel McChord, 1857-1927,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: May 20, 2005

Editor's review

This book is a collection of essays by Crothers, belonging to American literature and widely circulated as a public-domain ebook. In a gentle and insightful style, the author discusses human nature, social customs, and the philosophy of everyday life; the prose is unhurried and humorous, with the typical temperament of American essays from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. For readers who want to understand how intellectuals of that era thought about the relationship between people and society, this book offers an approachable entry point. It is not for readers seeking plot or systematic theory, but rather for leisurely, slow savoring. Because it is a public-domain ebook, readers can obtain it for free; it suits those practicing English essay reading and those interested in the American humanistic essay tradition for casual browsing. There is no need to read it in one sitting; choosing appealing pieces for close reading better reveals its flavor.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy English essays and are willing to read slowly and savor them
Readers interested in American humanistic thought from the late nineteenth to early twentieth century
Readers who want free access to classic English works through public-domain ebooks
Intermediate and advanced learners who want to practice reading and understanding long English sentences

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer strong plot and fast-paced narrative
Readers expecting systematic philosophical argument or academic monographs
Beginners with weak English who need extensive annotations

Reading tips

Start by reading the table of contents and choosing pieces whose titles appeal to you; there is no need to read straight through in order
After each piece, summarize the author's point in a few sentences to check your understanding
Mark unfamiliar expressions first, then look them up together after finishing the whole piece
Read alongside works by other American essayists to appreciate differences in style

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 collection of essays?

According to the information, the book is classified under American literature, and the author Crothers is known for essays. It is not a plot-driven novel but essayistic writing around human nature and social topics, suited to slow savoring rather than following a story.

Can I read it if my English is average?

This is an original English work with period style and rather long sentences. Intermediate and advanced learners can read it with a dictionary; readers with weaker foundations are advised to try shorter pieces first or use annotated editions and translations alongside, so as not to give up because of difficulty.

Why can it be read online for free?

The book was released by Project Gutenberg, a platform dedicated to free public-domain ebooks. The author died long enough ago that copyright protection has expired and the work has entered the public domain, so readers can legally obtain and read it for free.

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About the author

Samuel McChord Crothers Author · American · 1857–1927

Samuel McChord Crothers (1857–1927) was an American Unitarian minister and essayist who long served as pastor of the First Parish in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Gentle and humorous in style, his works often fall into the category of inspirational and personal growth writing, blending relaxed observation and counsel with everyday subjects. Four of his works are included here: The Gentle Reader, By the Christmas Fire, Humanly Speaking, and Miss Muffet's Christmas Party, comprising essay collections as well as light narratives set around the holidays. He also coined the term "bibliotherapy," reflecting his interest in reading's power to comfort the mind. Public information is limited, so biographical details are difficult to set out fully; yet his surviving works show a writing style marked by warmth, restraint, and geniality.