Odd Charges

William Wymark JacobsProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.4

Word count: 24K words
Chapters: 3

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.Odd Charges by W. W. JacobsAuthor: Jacobs, W. W. (William Wymark), 1863-1943,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Apr 1, 2004

Editor's review

Odd Charges is a short story by the British writer W. W. Jacobs, made available as a free ebook by Project Gutenberg. Jacobs is known for depicting ordinary people's daily lives and unexpected turns, and this piece continues his characteristic narrative rhythm: the plot moves briskly, the dialogue is lively, and the ending often leaves a lingering, thought-provoking impression. As a public-domain ebook, its value lies not in binding or rarity but in giving readers very easy access to English short narrative from the late Victorian to Edwardian era. The language of the original is generally plain but contains older slang and colloquial expressions, making it suitable as extensive reading material or as a window into everyday urban life of the time. In terms of reading situations, it suits being read in fragments during commutes or lunch breaks; for English study, it can be paired with dictionary work and read-aloud practice. Note that this is an English-language original ebook, not a translation, so readers should have basic English reading ability.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who want to read English short stories in fragmented time
Literature lovers interested in British modern short fiction about everyday urban life
Learners who want to practice extensive English reading with public-domain ebooks
People who need light English texts as material for reading aloud or rewriting

Not a good fit for

Readers who only want to read Chinese translations
Readers expecting long, complete plots or complex world-building
People with weak English who cannot read the original independently

Reading tips

Read through once to grasp the plot, then go back to look up new words and old-fashioned expressions.
Read in sections by scene, doing one or two short sections at a time and giving a brief retelling.
Pair it with audio reading to feel the rhythm and tone of the dialogue.
After finishing, note how the ending's twist is handled and appreciate the author's narrative technique.

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 Chinese version or the English original?

This is the English original ebook published by Project Gutenberg; the text is in English, not a Chinese translation. Basic English reading ability is needed beforehand, and older slang can be understood with a dictionary or notes.

Do I need to pay or register to read it?

No. Project Gutenberg offers free ebooks, and this work is in the public domain, so it can be downloaded or read online at no cost, and usually no account is required.

Is it suitable for learning English?

It works as material for extensive reading and language feel, being fairly short with plenty of dialogue. But the text contains older slang and colloquial speech that may be hard for beginners; using a dictionary and prioritizing clear passages for close reading is recommended.

Comments

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About the author

William Wymark Jacobs Author · British · 1863–1943

William Wymark Jacobs (1863–1943) was a British short-story writer, born in London in 1863 and died there in 1943. In his early years he lived around the Thames docks and was familiar with the lives of sailors and dockworkers, which led him to write a great many humorous sea stories, often in a light and witty tone. His best-known work, The Monkey's Paw, is a classic horror short story included in The Lady of the Barge (1902); noted for its tight suspense and sudden twists, it is still widely anthologized in horror collections. The library holds 109 of his works, including The Lady of the Barge and Others, Ship's Company, A Tiger's Skin, Captains All, and Night Watches; his common category is inspirational growth. Public information is limited and details of his life are largely unavailable, yet his fiction is distinctive in subject, blending humor with horror, and has had a lasting influence on later short-story writing.