Lodusky

Burnett, Frances Hodgson, 1849-1924Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.9

Word count: 62K words
Chapters: 7

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. Lodusky by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Author: Burnett, Frances Hodgson, 1849-1924. Language: English. Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature. Release Date: Nov 4, 2007

Editor's review

Lodusky is also by Frances Hodgson Burnett and is offered as a free eBook through Project Gutenberg. Burnett's short stories often begin with everyday scenes and reveal emotion and circumstance through her characters' words and actions. This one is brief, well suited to a complete reading of an English short story in a short sitting. The Gutenberg edition preserves the text as it stands, without heavy interpretive apparatus, so readers can decide for themselves where the narrative emphasis falls and follow the unfolding and turns of the characters' relationships. For readers new to public-domain short fiction in English, it can serve as supplementary material for getting to know Burnett's range; for those already accustomed to reading in English, it can be a light exercise in close reading. While reading, watch the narrative perspective and the shifts between scenes, and notice how a short story brings its emotional arc to a close within a limited space.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers looking to add Burnett's short fiction to their reading
Readers with basic English who enjoy short stories
Readers interested in free public-domain eBook resources
Anyone needing short texts for close-reading practice in English

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer Chinese translations and do not wish to read the English original
Readers expecting a long novel or strong plot conflict
Learners who need detailed notes and background explanation

Reading tips

Read through once without stopping to look up words, to grasp the overall direction of the story first.
On a second pass, mark when characters appear and how their relationships change, and trace the story's structure.
Try reading passages of dialogue aloud to feel the rhythm of the English prose.
After reading, write a short response recording your judgment of the characters' situations.

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 Lodusky suitable for English beginners?

This is a short story in the original English, and its language carries the marks of its period, so beginners may find it somewhat difficult. It is better attempted once you have basic vocabulary and reading ability, or read alongside a dictionary and other aids.

What are the features of the Gutenberg edition?

Project Gutenberg provides free eBooks, and the edition information notes the author, language, and classification. This is the original English text, giving readers direct access to the work, but it usually includes no detailed notes or introduction.

Do I need to know about Burnett's life first?

No. The story can be read on its own, and not knowing the author's life does not hinder understanding. If the story makes you curious about the author, filling in her life and background afterward can enrich a return to the work.

Comments

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About the author

Burnett, Frances Hodgson, 1849-1924 Author

Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849–1924) was an author of English-language children's literature whose works are often categorized in Chinese contexts as inspirational coming-of-age stories. This library holds 49 of her works, including her best-known titles A Little Princess, The Secret Garden, and Little Lord Fauntleroy, as well as versions and school editions centering on Sara Crewe. Her writing usually places children at the center, telling stories of how they keep their dignity, draw on imagination, and grow through hardship or sudden change, in a warm and sympathetic tone. Public information is limited, so her biographical details are not elaborated here; yet the repeated publication and adaptation of these works show that her portraits of girls and boys have circulated widely and left a lasting influence on later children's coming-of-age narratives.