Last Resort

Bartholomew, StephenProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.4

Word count: 22K words
Chapters: 3

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.Last Resort by Stephen BartholomewAuthor: Bartholomew, Stephen,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Dec 11, 2009

Editor's review

Last Resort is a short novel by Stephen Bartholomew that re-entered public reading through Project Gutenberg's digitization. Classified within American and Canadian literature, it reads more like popular fiction than experimental writing: the plot moves clearly, the scenes are concentrated, and the characters make choices in a situation of last resort or no retreat, carrying a measure of suspense and emotional tension. Its value lies not in grand literary ambition but in offering a compact, quickly accessible narrative sample that lets readers observe how characters reveal their temperaments and shifting relationships under pressure. For readers studying popular literature or the ecosystem of digital public-domain books, it is also a usable textual case. While reading, one might note how the "last resort" suggested by the title plays out in the plot: whether it is a way out of an external predicament or a turning point in the character's psychology. The length is friendly, suitable for reading through in one sitting and then revisiting the key choices to appreciate the structural echoes.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Casual readers who want to finish a complete story in a short time
Enthusiasts of American popular fiction and public-domain literary texts
English readers who wish to practice sustained reading with a mid-length novel
General readers interested in themes of characters making choices under duress

Not a good fit for

Literary readers seeking complex narrative experiments and multi-layered structures
Readers who need abundant action scenes or strong genre thrills
Readers hoping for detailed author biography and background research

Reading tips

First read through the main storyline in one go, then revisit the passages where the title appears or echoes to understand the meaning of "last resort"
While reading, note the dialogue and choices characters make under pressure, and jot down in a few sentences how their attitudes change
If using it for English study, a second pass can focus on a scene of character conflict for close reading and retelling
After finishing, compare it with other public-domain short stories to observe how popular narrative quickly establishes conflict

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 long, and how long does it take to finish?

In its public-domain e-book form it is a relatively short novel, typically finishable in a few hours of continuous reading. The exact time depends on reading speed; it suits a single focused reading session.

Will lacking background knowledge about the author affect my understanding?

Generally not. The novel advances through plot and character situation and does not rely on external biographical knowledge. If you wish to go deeper, you can check the public-domain page information after reading, but extensive preparation beforehand is unnecessary.

Is it suitable as English extensive reading material?

Yes. The length is moderate and the narrative coherent, making it easy to practice sustained reading. When encountering unfamiliar words, first infer from context, and after finishing a chapter, focus on the key words that affect understanding.

Comments

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About the author

Bartholomew, Stephen Author

Stephen Bartholomew is an author about whom little public information is currently available. Four of his works are held in the collection: The Hermit of Mars, The Standardized Man, Last Resort, and The Rumble and the Roar. Judging from the titles, his writing may venture into science fiction and allegorical fiction, focusing on individuals under alien circumstances or institutional pressure—the solitude and estrangement suggested by "the hermit of Mars," a reflection on standardization and homogeneity in "the standardized man," and a sense of tension and conflict in "last resort" and "the rumble and the roar." Since his dates of birth and death, nationality, and professional career are not clearly documented, it is not yet possible to outline his life. The available material is insufficient to determine his era or literary standing; readers may treat his works as the main entry point into his writing, whose choice of subjects and naming already reveal a certain reflective quality and generic interest.