In Pawn

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

3.0

Word count: 269K words
Chapters: 27

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.In Pawn by Ellis Parker ButlerAuthor: Butler, Ellis Parker, 1869-1937,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Nov 10, 2013

Editor's review

In Pawn is a short English work by Ellis Parker Butler, classified under American and Canadian literature and released by Project Gutenberg as a public-domain ebook. From the record, it is short and serves as a good entry point to the author's short narrative style. Butler was known for humor and everyday subjects; this work suits reading in spare moments and use as selected English literature or material for short-text analysis. Don't seek grand themes—notice instead the light charm in the characters' situations, the rhythm of dialogue, and the turns of plot. Since the record provides no detailed plot, readers should enter with an open mind and treat it as a short reading exercise. For those needing public-domain English short fiction for classroom or self-study, this electronic edition is easy to obtain and search.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers wanting to read English short fiction in spare moments
English learners needing public-domain English literary texts
Literature enthusiasts interested in American short humorous narrative
English teachers looking for classroom reading selections

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer long, complex plots and deep character portrayal
Beginning English readers needing detailed notes and introductions
Readers expecting serious discussion of social issues

Reading tips

Read through once to grasp the plot, then revisit expressions in dialogue and turning points.
Note unfamiliar English expressions, guess from context, then verify.
Read alongside other American short works to appreciate differences in narrative style.
Best read in one sitting; afterward, retell the key points in your own words.

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 suitable for English beginners?

It can serve as an exploratory read, but it is unadapted English original text, and the electronic edition usually has no notes. Beginners may encounter vocabulary and expression barriers; it is better to start with a simplified edition or use a dictionary and introductory materials before tackling the original.

Does this electronic edition have notes or an introduction?

According to the record, this is a public-domain ebook released by Project Gutenberg, mainly providing the original text, usually without modern notes or introduction. For background, consult separate research on the author and work.

How long does it take to read?

The record does not specify the word count, but as a short work it can typically be finished in one or several spare-moment readings. The exact time depends on your English reading speed and whether you look up unfamiliar words.

Do I need to know the author before reading?

No extensive preparation is necessary. Knowing that Ellis Parker Butler was known for humorous short fiction helps set expectations. It is also fine to go straight into the text and look up the author's background later if interested.

Comments

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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.