Middlesex

Moncrieff, A. R. Hope (Ascott Robert Hope), 1846-1Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.5

Word count: 243K words
Chapters: 25

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.Middlesex by A. R. Hope MoncrieffAuthor: Moncrieff, A. R. Hope (Ascott Robert Hope), 1846-1927,Language: English, Class: DA: History: General and Eastern Hemisphere: Great Britain, Ireland, Central Europe, Release Date: Nov 27, 2014

Editor's review

This is a topographical work on Middlesex by the English author A. R. Hope Moncrieff, a public-domain historical and geographical title in the Project Gutenberg free eBook collection. Its value lies not in literary narrative but in its systematic introduction, from a late nineteenth- to early twentieth-century perspective, to the history, place-name lore, buildings and local life of the English county of Middlesex, preserving for today's readers a textual cross-section against which past and present can be compared. The prose has the unhurried tone of Victorian county writing, with a moderate density of information, and is suitable as a sample of the British local-history and county-survey tradition. It is best read as a historical essay rather than a travel guide, with entries on churches, estates and old roads dipped into according to interest. As a public-domain electronic text, the layout and notes are plain, and readers should supply their own maps or background knowledge.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in British local history and the county-survey tradition
Lovers of history and letters studying late nineteenth-century English local writing
Students needing public-domain English historical sources for translation or textual analysis
Leisurely readers who enjoy slow reading of geographical lore and do not seek plot

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting novelistic narrative or strong plot
Travellers needing up-to-date tourist information and practical routes
Beginners who struggle with English and depend on detailed notes

Reading tips

Read the contents and introduction first, then jump to chapters on towns or landmarks of interest.
Keep a historical map of Middlesex at hand and compare place names and locations as you read.
Set descriptions of places against present-day place names in west London and keep notes on past and present.
Read only one or two chapters at a time to avoid fatigue from the dense information of a county survey.

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?

No. It is a topographical work on Middlesex by A. R. Hope Moncrieff, focused on historical geography and local lore rather than fictional narrative; expectations should be set on historical material and descriptions of places.

Can I read it without a background in British history?

You can, but it will be difficult. The book mentions many place names, churches and estates, and without background you may easily get lost. It is advisable first to learn the rough extent of Middlesex and the geography of west London, then read with a map.

What are the features of this edition?

This is a public-domain English electronic text released by Project Gutenberg, with plain layout and no modern notes; its advantage is that it is free and easy to obtain. Readers must supply their own maps and background material and should not expect the experience of a carefully annotated edition.

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About the author

Moncrieff, A. R. Hope (Ascott Robert Hope), 1846-1 Author

A. R. Hope Moncrieff (Ascott Robert Hope Moncrieff, 1846–?) was a British writer of topographical and travel works active in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries; details of his life and the year of his death are scarce in publicly available sources. Six of his works are held here, including The Heart of Scotland, Isle of Wight, Bonnie Scotland, Surrey, Kew Gardens and Middlesex. They focus on the landscapes, local history and gardens of Britain and were written for general readers, combining a guidebook's usefulness with literary charm. His style is narrative and descriptive, weaving place-name lore, rural scenery and anecdotes about notable figures into accessible, companionable prose suited to leisurely reading. Such regional books were popular in the age of railway travel, helping readers form a broad impression of local culture beyond a single visit, and they remain readable popular references for the British places and travel writing of their time.