In Secret

Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William), 1865-1933Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.1

Word count: 425K words
Chapters: 43

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 Secret by Robert W. ChambersAuthor: Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William), 1865-1933,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: May 1, 2004

Editor's review

Robert W. Chambers was an American writer active from the late nineteenth to the early twentieth century, and In Secret is one of his works of fiction, released by Project Gutenberg as a public-domain electronic text. Chambers is known for suspense, sentiment, and plots with a touch of mystery; this book lets readers understand his narrative style and the popular literary tastes of the period. As a free electronic edition, it is suitable for English literature reading practice, tracing the origins of genre fiction, and research on public-domain texts. Readers should not expect the dense twists of modern thrillers, but should focus on character relationships, atmosphere, and the moral tensions of the era; comparing it with other works by Chambers will better reveal changes in his themes and techniques. Overall, it is a work suited to readers with a foundation in English reading and an interest in early Anglo-American popular fiction, to be read slowly and savored.

Who it's for

A good fit for

English literature enthusiasts who want to learn about early twentieth-century American popular fiction
Readers with a foundation in English who enjoy stories blending suspense and sentiment
Readers studying public-domain texts and the origins of genre fiction
Learners who want free English originals for reading practice

Not a good fit for

Readers with weak English who need full translation and notes
Readers expecting modern fast-paced thrills and strong twists
Readers with little patience for the narrative pace and usage of a century ago

Reading tips

Read the first few chapters to get a feel for the narrative pace, then decide whether to read through or select key chapters.
Keep a notebook to record character relationships and clues, which helps track the suspense.
When encountering period usage, first guess from context, then look things up after finishing the chapter.
Read alongside other works by Chambers to observe similarities and differences in theme and 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

What kind of work is this book?

Judging from Chambers's background, this book is early twentieth-century American popular fiction, often with suspense, sentiment, and a mysterious atmosphere. For specific plot details, refer to the original text; readers can treat it as a sample of the popular literary tastes of the time.

How difficult is the English?

The text is early twentieth-century English, with sentence patterns and vocabulary somewhat distant from modern English, but overall it belongs to the popular fiction register. Readers with college-level English reading ability can attempt it; for unfamiliar expressions, use context and avoid checking every word.

Is the electronic edition suitable for citation in research?

The Project Gutenberg edition is a public-domain electronic text and can be used for reading and research reference. However, academic citation should verify the specific edition, page numbers, and transcription information, and consult authoritative paper editions when necessary to avoid quotation errors caused by layout differences.

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About the author

Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William), 1865-1933 Author

Robert W. Chambers (1865–1933) was an American novelist active in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. His birth and death years and nationality are relatively clear in public sources, though detailed biographical information and educational background remain limited. He was a prolific writer, with 38 works held in the collection. He is best known for the short-story collection The King in Yellow, which blends weird, horror, and supernatural elements and became an important early work of weird fiction, exerting a certain influence on later horror and fantasy writing. Beyond weird fiction, his works also span romance, historical, and popular fiction, including Athalie, The Mystery of Choice, The Hidden Children, The Common Law, The Dark Star, In Search of the Unknown, and The Slayer of Souls, demonstrating a diversity of subjects and styles. Overall, his writing is notable for atmospheric construction and narrative tension, securing him a place in popular literature and the weird tradition.