Mrs. Farrell cover

Mrs. Farrell

Rating 3.3
Word count
389K words
Chapters
39

Tags

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.Mrs. Farrell by William Dean HowellsAuthor: Howells, William Dean, 1837-1920,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Apr 12, 2018

Editor's review

Mrs. Farrell is a novel by William Dean Howells, presented here in its original English in Project Gutenberg. Howells was a leading figure in nineteenth-century American literary realism, known for depicting everyday life and character psychology in plain, restrained prose. The novel centers on its heroine and explores social relationships, ideas of marriage, and the subtle tensions between characters, reflecting the author's close observation of manners and morals. For readers studying American realist fiction, nineteenth-century depictions of women, or Howells's development, this offers a directly accessible primary text. The electronic edition includes no introduction or notes, so readers must supply the historical context themselves. It is better suited to coursework or research than to readers seeking a plot-driven diversion.

Who it's for

A good fit for

  • Students and scholars of nineteenth-century American literary realism
  • Readers interested in depictions of women and marriage in American literature
  • Those who need Howells's original text for courses or papers
  • Readers of public-domain English fiction who can supply their own background

Not a good fit for

  • Beginners seeking detailed notes, introductions, or scholarly analysis
  • Readers of popular fiction who prefer strong plots and fast pacing
  • Readers with limited English who need simplified versions or translations

Reading tips

  1. Learn about the American realist movement and Howells's place in it before reading
  2. Note the heroine's words and behavior in social settings to grasp her psychology
  3. Read alongside other nineteenth-century American novels' portrayals of women
  4. Keep track of character relationships as you read to avoid confusion over names

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.

Contents

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13
  14. 14
  15. 15
  16. 16
  17. 17
  18. 18
  19. 19
  20. 20
  21. 21
  22. 22
  23. 23
  24. 24
  25. 25
  26. 26
  27. 27
  28. 28
  29. 29
  30. 30
  31. 31
  32. 32
  33. 33
  34. 34
  35. 35
  36. 36
  37. 37
  38. 38
  39. 39

FAQ

Is this book suitable for English learners?
The text is nineteenth-century English, with period syntax and vocabulary that may challenge learners below the intermediate level. Readers with a solid foundation who are willing to look up words can try it.
Does this edition include notes or an introduction?
As a Project Gutenberg public-domain ebook, it usually contains only the text, without scholarly notes or an introduction. Readers are advised to look up the author's life and the work's background themselves.
What are Howells's main characteristics as a writer?
Howells is known for his realist method, focusing on social manners, ideas of marriage, and character psychology in everyday life. His narration is plain and detailed, relying less on dramatic plot conflict.

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About the author

William Dean Howells (1837–1920) was an American author and literary editor, with 107 works held in the collection. His writing spans novels, travel books, memoirs, and literary essays, and his representative works include My Mark Twain, Indian Summer, A Boy's Town, A Modern Instance, and A Hazard of New Fortunes. Howells drew on close observation of everyday life, writing in a plain style with gentle irony and attending to moral questions and human situations amid social change; his travel book Venetian Life and his memoir Literary Friends and Acquaintance record his journeys and personal recollections of American literary figures. Public information is limited, so biographical details are not elaborated here; readers may turn to the works above to learn about his subjects and style.

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