Lost

Edward BellamyProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.7

Word count: 27K 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. Lost by Edward Bellamy. Author: Bellamy, Edward, 1850-1898. Language: English. Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature. Release Date: Sep 21, 2007

Editor's review

Lost is a short work by Edward Bellamy, available in Project Gutenberg's free eBook library. Bellamy is best known for Looking Backward, and his writing often carries a speculative, socially minded bent; this story likewise shows the tension in late nineteenth-century American literature between popular storytelling and the expression of ideas. The work is brief and in English, making it a useful supplementary read for understanding a less central side of Bellamy, and suited to readers interested in the narrative pleasures of early American short fiction. It need not be approached as a grand classic; rather, it can be read as a small window onto how a socially engaged writer handles his characters' circumstances, and the turns of fate. As a public-domain electronic text it is easy to obtain, suitable for reading through in fragments of time such as a commute or between classes, and it can also be read alongside Bellamy's other works to trace the continuity of his concerns.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who want to know a less representative side of Edward Bellamy's fiction
Readers interested in late nineteenth-century American short fiction
Learners who need a light public-domain English text for extensive reading
People who like to finish a whole short story in fragments of time

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a long social utopia in the manner of Looking Backward
Beginners who need a Chinese translation or detailed annotations
Readers who prefer strongly plotted, fast-paced genre fiction

Reading tips

Read through once to grasp the direction of the story, then go back over the character relationships and key turning points.
Read it alongside material on Bellamy's life and the social background of late nineteenth-century America.
Mark unfamiliar words while reading the English original, and look them up together after finishing.
If time is limited, read it once and treat it as a short sample of another side of the author.

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 short story?

According to the Project Gutenberg record, Lost is a short work by Bellamy, brief enough to read in one sitting. The materials do not give a specific page count; readers can check the length in the electronic text.

Can I read it without a Chinese edition?

The eBook is in English, and the materials show no Chinese translation. If English reading is difficult, use a dictionary or a bilingual comparison tool for support; relying entirely on machine translation is not recommended for grasping literary detail.

How is it related to Looking Backward?

Both works are by Edward Bellamy, but Lost is not a sequel to Looking Backward or part of the same novel series. The materials show only that it is a short work by Bellamy; there is no need to assume a utopian setting when reading.

Is it suitable for learning English?

It can serve as extensive reading material, but the text uses late nineteenth-century literary language, and its sentence patterns and vocabulary are not necessarily close to contemporary speech. It is best used by readers who already have some grounding in English reading, with vocabulary lookup and background reading alongside.

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About the author

Edward Bellamy Author · American · 1850–1898

Edward Bellamy (1850–1898) was an American novelist and journalist, best known for his utopian novel Looking Backward: 2000–1887. The book imagines a future society based on nationalization and cooperation; it became a bestseller of its time and gave rise to the Nationalist Club movement, influencing social reform debates. His other works include Equality, Dr. Heidenhoff's Process, Miss Ludington's Sister, and The Blindman's World. Twenty-two of his works are held in the collection. His writing often centers on social ideals, future visions, and human nature, combining narrative drive with speculative reflection. Public information on the details of his life is limited, so this introduction focuses on the themes and influence of his works.