Masques & Phases

Ross, Robert Baldwin, 1869-1918Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.3

Word count: 332K 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.Masques & Phases by Robert Baldwin RossAuthor: Ross, Robert Baldwin, 1869-1918,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Jan 24, 2006

Editor's review

Masques & Phases is a collection of English essays and criticism by Robert Baldwin Ross, classified under PR English literature. Ross, a friend and literary executor of Wilde, writes with the presence and observational perspective of the fin-de-siècle British literary world. The book is not long, its style leans toward essayistic criticism, and it touches on drama, people, and the spirit of the age; it is suitable as corroborating material for understanding the late nineteenth-century British literary circle and theatrical culture. Its value lies not in systematic literary history but in an eyewitness tone and judgments of taste. Reading it requires some ability to read English originals and a basic familiarity with Wilde's era; otherwise one may easily stay at the literal level. As a public-domain e-book, it is better suited to researchers and literature enthusiasts as extended reading than as an introductory text.

Who it's for

A good fit for

English-reading readers interested in late nineteenth-century British literature and drama
Researchers who already know Wilde's life and wish to read the writings of his friends
Readers who enjoy essays and criticism and can accept an old-fashioned English style

Not a good fit for

General readers whose English reading is not yet proficient and who need a Chinese translation
Readers expecting systematic literary history or a complete biography
People who prefer plot-driven narrative and light entertainment reading

Reading tips

Read one short piece first to become familiar with the style, then decide whether to read the whole book.
Jot down the names and plays mentioned as you read, so you can verify the background afterward.
Read alongside a Wilde biography or chronology to understand the context.

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 collection of criticism?

The material indicates it belongs to English literature (PR class); Ross was known for essays and criticism, so the book is closer to essayistic criticism and character sketches than to a plot-driven novel. The specific contents require consulting the original.

Can I read it without a Chinese translation?

The material shows this is a public-domain English e-book released by Project Gutenberg and does not mention a Chinese translation. Readers need English reading ability or must use a dictionary and auxiliary tools to read the original.

Is it suitable for learning about Wilde?

Ross was closely associated with Wilde, and the book may involve related literary figures and atmosphere, so it can serve as corroborating material; but it is not a biography of Wilde and should not be the first choice for systematically learning about him.

Comments

Find this book

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Ross, Robert Baldwin, 1869-1918 Author

Robert Baldwin Ross (1869–1918) was an English writer closely associated with the Aesthetic movement and the social circle around Oscar Wilde. Two of his works are included here: Aubrey Beardsley and Masques & Phases. Aubrey Beardsley concerns the life and art of the English illustrator Aubrey Beardsley and stands as one of the early biographical texts on this Aesthetic illustrator; Masques & Phases is a collection of essays, its title suggesting masks and phases, dealing chiefly with literary and artistic figures. Both books focus on late nineteenth-century British literary and artistic personalities, written in the form of essays and biography, with careful observation and an unhurried narrative tone that carries a distinct Aesthetic sensibility and the mark of its era. Public information is limited and details of his life are largely unavailable, so he is best read through his works rather than inferred from this note.