More Jonathan Papers

Morris, Elisabeth Woodbridge, 1870-1964Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.4

Word count: 216K words
Chapters: 22

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.More Jonathan Papers by Elisabeth Woodbridge MorrisAuthor: Morris, Elisabeth Woodbridge, 1870-1964,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Dec 19, 2006

Editor's review

More Jonathan Papers is a sequel to Elizabeth Woodbridge Morris's essays, a light read in the early twentieth-century American familiar-essay tradition. The book continues the daily reflections threaded through the figure of "Jonathan", with a warm, restrained style that draws humorous observation and gentle commentary from ordinary details of life. Its value lies not in systematic knowledge but in a leisurely, faintly nostalgic prose rhythm that lets readers savor the easy pleasures of the old-style essay in short pieces. As a public-domain e-book, the text preserves the syntax and diction of early English prose, so a feel for English is needed. It suits light reading before bed or on the commute, and is well suited to readers interested in early twentieth-century American life essays for casual dipping. Those studying the language and everyday subjects of the period's familiar essays will find it useful supplementary material.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy early twentieth-century American life essays and familiar essays
Learners seeking light extensive reading in short English essays
Casual readers who prefer a humorous, gentle tone over plot-driven excitement

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a full plot or suspenseful momentum
Beginners with weak English who are unused to early prose syntax
Academic readers seeking systematic historical or cultural argument

Reading tips

Read a piece or two at a time rather than straight through, to avoid rhythm fatigue.
Mark unfamiliar early words or long sentences, then revisit them after finishing the piece.
Compare with contemporary American essay anthologies to observe differences in language and subject matter.

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

Do I need to read the previous book first?

As a sequel, most pieces are standalone reflections, so reading this book directly usually does not hinder understanding. To grasp the overall tone and character thread of the "Jonathan" series more fully, you may read the previous book first, but it is not a necessary prerequisite.

How difficult is the English?

The text is early twentieth-century English prose, with rather long sentences, older diction, and the unhurried exposition typical of the essay. Readers with intermediate or higher English reading ability and a habit of literary expression will find it smoother; beginners are advised to use annotations or read alongside a translation.

Is it suitable for practicing English reading?

It works well as extensive reading material, especially for practicing how to grasp the main idea and tone in longer sentences. It is not recommended as a zero-beginner textbook, because the syntax and vocabulary of early prose differ from modern everyday English and require some feel for the language.

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About the author

Morris, Elisabeth Woodbridge, 1870-1964 Author · American · 1870–1964

Elisabeth Woodbridge Morris (1870–1964) was an American writer and teacher. Public information about her is limited, and the details of her life are little known to Chinese readers, but it is clear that she worked for many years in writing and teaching and left two works connected with the "Jonathan" series: The Jonathan Papers and More Jonathan Papers. Judging from their titles and the categories in our database, these writings belong to the familiar essay, with a gentle tone, close observation, an interest in everyday life, and a personal narrative voice; her identity as a teacher also made educational themes one dimension of her writing. Though few in number, the two works reflect, to some extent, the relaxed and intimate strain in early twentieth-century American essay writing and may be of use to researchers of American familiar essays and life writing of that period.