Marjorie

McCarthy, Justin H. (Justin Huntly), 1860-1936Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.7

Word count: 334K words
Chapters: 34

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. Marjorie by Justin H. McCarthy. Author: McCarthy, Justin H. (Justin Huntly), 1860-1936. Language: English. Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature. Release Date: Jul 16, 2008

Editor's review

Marjorie is a novel by Justin Huntly McCarthy, an author who was also a politician; his writing often has the fluency of popular storytelling and an eye for human nature and social manners. This book is a public-domain work of English literature, released in electronic form by Project Gutenberg; the main barrier to reading is the English original and its period context rather than length. From the available information, the work is titled after a character's name and tells a story centered on a figure named Marjorie, making it suitable as extensive reading for those who want to encounter English popular fiction of the late nineteenth to early twentieth century. It is better treated as a sample for understanding the narrative style and English expression of the fiction of that time than as a book sought for strong plot or modern pacing. Readers can use the electronic edition to look up unfamiliar words at any time, proceed chapter by chapter, and appreciate the feel of old-fashioned English fiction and its manner of characterization.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers with upper-intermediate to advanced English who want to read novels in the original English
Readers interested in English popular literature of the late nineteenth to early twentieth century
Readers who enjoy character-driven narratives with a relatively leisurely pace
Readers who need public-domain English materials for language learning or textual analysis

Not a good fit for

Beginners with weak English who need extensive notes to read through
Readers who prefer fast-paced, plot-driven modern genre fiction
Readers who want a Chinese translation and do not wish to engage with the English original

Reading tips

Proceed chapter by chapter; after each chapter, summarize the characters and events in one paragraph of English to train overall comprehension.
Read the opening chapters first to judge the style and difficulty, then decide whether to read intensively or extensively.
Keep a small glossary of recurring unfamiliar words and old-fashioned expressions, and review it regularly.
Read alongside brief background material on the author's period to help understand the characters' words and actions.

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

How difficult is this book to read?

It is an old-fashioned English novel with relatively long sentences and period-flavored vocabulary, posing some challenge for non-native readers. Those at intermediate level or above can try extensive reading, skipping difficulties to preserve overall understanding and returning for close reading later; beginners are advised to use notes or a guide.

Do I need to know the author's background before reading?

It is not a prerequisite, but knowing that the author was both a writer and a political figure helps in understanding the work's attention to human nature and society. Read the main text first, and look up brief background material when encountering social context you do not understand, so as not to let the material slow your reading pace.

What electronic formats are available?

This book is released by Project Gutenberg, which usually offers multiple ebook formats for download; the specific available formats are subject to that platform's page. After downloading, you can read it on a phone, tablet, or computer, making it easy to look up words and take notes at any time.

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About the author

McCarthy, Justin H. (Justin Huntly), 1860-1936 Author

Justin H. McCarthy (1860–1936) was a British writer active in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, though public information about his life is limited. Nine of his works are held here, spanning novels, historical writing and drama, mostly drawing on British and European history. Novels such as The Lady of Loyalty House, If I Were King, The Proud Prince and Marjorie are set against royal power, court intrigue and political conflict, and are rich in romance and incident; The Duke's Motto: A Melodrama reflects his interest in dramatic writing. His historical works include volumes III and IV of A History of the Four Georges and of William IV, which narrate the court and politics of the Hanoverian era. Overall, his writing combines popular storytelling with historical subjects, with an emphasis on plot and dramatic tension.