Marmaduke

Steel, Flora Annie Webster, 1847-1929Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.1

Word count: 429K words
Chapters: 43

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.Marmaduke by Flora Annie Webster SteelAuthor: Steel, Flora Annie Webster, 1847-1929,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: May 29, 2012

Editor's review

Marmaduke is a novel by Flora Annie Webster Steel, an author who wrote extensively about British India and often interwove local customs, colonial administration, and individual destinies. The book is titled after a single person, and as you read, it is worth noting how the protagonist moves between family, social identity, and moral choice: the narrative is not driven by strong suspense but unfolds gradually through character relationships and environmental detail. Its strength lies in patient description of everyday scenes and dialogue with local color, which lets readers feel the atmosphere and order of the place where the story is set. For readers who enjoy English fiction of the late 19th to early 20th century, especially those interested in social life during the colonial period, this novel offers a textured reading experience; those expecting fast-paced plotting or strong reversals should adjust their expectations. It is best read as a character novel that requires slow entry.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy English fiction of the late 19th to early 20th century
Those interested in the British India setting and colonial-era social life
Slow readers willing to patiently follow character relationships and everyday detail
Students studying Steel's work or women writers' narrative

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking strong suspense, fast pacing, and dense reversals
Those with no interest in colonial settings who want only contemporary subjects
Beginners with limited English reading stamina who give up easily on long sentences

Reading tips

Read the first few chapters first, clarify the character relationships, then decide your reading pace; there is no need to rush.
Pay attention to local color and identity hints in the dialogue; they reveal the theme more than the plot does.
After each section, summarize the change in the characters' situation in one sentence to help keep track of the threads.
If the pace feels slow, read the beginnings and ends of chapters first, then go back and fill in the middle details.

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

What kind of novel is Marmaduke?

It is a character-centered novel. Steel often wrote about British India, and her work emphasizes social relations, local customs, and personal choice. The book does not rely on strong suspense but advances through everyday scenes and character interaction, making it suitable for readers willing to read slowly and focus on the characters' circumstances. Specific plot details should be based on the original text; it should not be assumed to be an adventure or detective story.

Can I read it without knowing about British India?

Yes, but understanding will be reduced. The social hierarchy, administrative environment, and local customs in the novel require some background awareness; when reading, look up relevant common knowledge as needed, or first read an overview of British Indian social structure. Focusing on character relationships and dialogue can also provide basic reading pleasure.

What if the reading pace feels slow?

First accept that it is a slow-burning character novel; there is no need to read it at the speed of a suspense book. Try reading one or two chapters at a time, and after reading, note in one sentence how the characters' situation has changed; when you encounter long descriptive passages, you can skim them first and return for details later. If it still feels difficult, read the beginnings and ends of chapters first to grasp the main thread, then fill in the rest.

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About the author

Steel, Flora Annie Webster, 1847-1929 Author

Flora Annie Webster Steel (1847–1929) was a British writer best known for her works on India and for her retellings of folk tales. Her output ranged widely: she produced story collections for children such as Tales of the Punjab: Folklore of India and English Fairy Tales, as well as novels set against Indian society and history, including On the Face of the Waters: A Tale of the Mutiny, The Flower of Forgiveness, The Potter's Thumb, The Hosts of the Lord, In the Guardianship of God and In the Permanent Way. Her writing often draws on Indian folklore and on the realities of colonial life, with plain narration and a strong sense of place. Public information about her life is limited, but the twenty works held here show a lasting engagement with folk literature and with exotic settings, contributing to both children's literature and fiction about India.