Nobody's Man

Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips), 1866-194Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 447K words
Chapters: 45

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. Nobody's Man by E. Phillips Oppenheim. Author: Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips), 1866–1946. Language: English. Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature. Release Date: Dec 19, 2005

Editor's review

Nobody's Man is an English novel by the British writer Edward Phillips Oppenheim (1866–1946), released free of charge by Project Gutenberg. Oppenheim was known for plot-driven popular fiction, often dealing with identity, politics, and social maneuvering, and the title itself suggests a protagonist who is somehow unplaced or living under a concealed identity. As English popular fiction of the early twentieth century, its value lies in its brisk narrative pace, its rendering of the social atmosphere of the period, and its characters' wavering between self-interest and principle. It makes no claim to literary experiment; it is better suited as light reading for understanding the character of English popular fiction of that era, and as long-form extensive reading material for English learners. Readers should approach it as an entertaining novel with suspense elements, following the plot and the characters' motives rather than expecting serious social critique or modern psychological depth.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy early twentieth-century English popular fiction and suspenseful plots
English learners who want to build extensive reading skills through a full-length English novel
Readers drawn to stories of mistaken identity and social maneuvering
Readers who use public-domain ebooks and prefer free resources

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting serious literary depth and complex narrative experimentation
Beginners with weak English who need a Chinese translation to follow the text
Readers impatient with the style and pacing of early popular fiction

Reading tips

Read the first two or three chapters to gauge the style and difficulty, then decide whether to read straight through or skip around.
Read extensively chapter by chapter, skipping unfamiliar words that do not hinder comprehension.
Note the turning points in the protagonist's identity and circumstances to keep track of the plot.
After finishing, revisit key chapters to see how character motives and misunderstandings drive the story.

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 language is this book written in?

According to Project Gutenberg, the book is in English and is the original English electronic edition, with no Chinese translation included. Chinese readers will need some English reading ability, or a dictionary and other aids.

Is it suitable for English beginners?

Not really for complete beginners or elementary readers. It is a full-length English novel from the early twentieth century, with sentence patterns and vocabulary characteristic of its time; it is better suited to intermediate learners and above with a reasonable vocabulary who want long-form extensive reading.

Do I need to know the author's background before reading?

Not necessarily. The available information gives only the author's dates and the book's language and classification. You can go straight into the text; if you want period context, you can look up public information on Oppenheim and the popular fiction of his time afterward.

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About the author

Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips), 1866-194 Author

E. Phillips Oppenheim (Edward Phillips Oppenheim, 1866–194) was a writer known for mystery and espionage fiction. Public information about him is limited, and the biographical details in our records are incomplete. The existing catalogue shows that he was a prolific author, with 61 of his works held on this site, including The Great Impersonation, The Double Traitor, The Governors, The Lost Ambassador, The Yellow House, and Stolen Idols. These works generally centre on disguise and false identity, political intrigue, detective pursuit, and adventure; their plots are tightly paced and full of suspense, and he was skilled at advancing the narrative through complex relationships among characters. His works are often classified under inspirational growth, reflecting readers' interest in the choices and turning points of fate faced by his characters.