Many Kingdoms

Elizabeth Garver JordanProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.2

Word count: 347K words
Chapters: 35

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.Many Kingdoms by Elizabeth Garver JordanAuthor: Jordan, Elizabeth Garver, 1867-1947,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Jun 1, 2004

Editor's review

Many Kingdoms is an English novel by Elizabeth Garver Jordan (1867–1947), now released free of charge by Project Gutenberg as a public-domain ebook. Jordan was active in American literary circles from the late nineteenth to the early twentieth century, and her work often depicts social life and human psychology with a delicate touch. The title itself suggests a narrative that moves among multiple "kingdoms"—which may be understood as different spheres of life, social classes, or states of mind—allowing readers to observe the social landscape and emotional structures of the era. As a public-domain book it carries no copyright barriers and is easy to pick up at any time; the text is in the English original, making it suitable material for reading English literature. Its value lies not in dramatic plotting but in its gentle portrayal of the manners and feelings of an older era; it is best savored slowly in quiet moments, or read as a specimen of early twentieth-century American popular fiction. It can be read alone in silence or used as extensive reading material for English learners, though some language foundation is required.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Chinese readers who enjoy early twentieth-century American popular fiction
English learners who want to practice extensive reading with public-domain originals
Readers interested in the social landscape and character portrayal of an older America
Readers who prefer short sessions and a slow pace with classics

Not a good fit for

Readers of modern genre fiction who expect strong plots and fast pacing
Beginners with weak English who cannot yet read English originals independently
Readers who need authoritative translations or scholarly introductions to understand the text

Reading tips

Read one chapter first to get the rhythm of the language, then decide between close and extensive reading.
Keep an electronic dictionary handy; look up unfamiliar words as you go and jot brief notes.
Pair it with background material on American society of the same period to help understand the characters' situations.
For English practice, read a fixed short section each day and retell its gist.

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 in Chinese or English?

It is an English original, released by Project Gutenberg as a public-domain ebook. The text is in English, with no Chinese translation included.

What level of English do I need to read it?

The text is early twentieth-century American literary language with rather traditional sentence patterns. It suits readers with CET-4 or above reading ability who can get through a general English novel with a dictionary; beginners will find it hard going.

Why does the author and publication information look like a catalog entry?

Because the book comes from a Project Gutenberg public-domain ebook entry, whose description mainly records metadata such as author, language, classification, and release date; it is not the same as a commercial book's blurb.

What can I get from reading this book?

You can experience the narrative tone and character portrayal of early twentieth-century American fiction, use it as a sample of popular literature of that period, and treat it as free, copyright-free extensive reading material in English.

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About the author

Elizabeth Garver Jordan Author · American · 1865–1947

Elizabeth Garver Jordan (1867–1947) was an American journalist, writer, editor, and supporter of women's suffrage. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and died in New York, she served as editor of Harper's Bazaar from 1900 to 1913, during which time she encouraged Sinclair Lewis and organized Henry James and other distinguished authors in a collaborative novel, The Whole Family. Three of her works are held here, including Many Kingdoms and the May Iverson series, the latter a light-hearted depiction of a young woman entering society; The Girl in the Mirror is also among her novels. Public information is limited. Her works often draw on urban life and women's circumstances, with a brisk style that combines a journalist's observation and a novelist's narrative sense, giving her a place in early twentieth-century American popular literature and women's writing.