Old Junk

Henry Major TomlinsonProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.5

Word count: 222K words
Chapters: 23

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.Old Junk by H. M. TomlinsonAuthor: Tomlinson, H. M. (Henry Major), 1873-1958,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: May 19, 2008

Editor's review

Old Junk is a prose work by the English writer Henry Major Tomlinson, classed under English literature. Judging by the title and the author's consistent bent, it reads more as meditative writing on old objects, travel and everyday experience than as a plot-driven novel. Its value lies in the texture of the prose: closely observed, restrained in tone, it often moves from unremarkable things to reflections on time, memory and the relations between people and their environment. It should not be rushed; read it as an essay collection, a paragraph or two at a quiet hour, letting the rhythm of the narration prompt thought. Readers who enjoy the English essay tradition and look for meaning in plain prose will find passages worth returning to; those who want strong plot or a clear framework of knowledge may find it diffuse. As a public-domain ebook, it works best as a supplement to literary reading rather than an introduction.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy the English essay and savour slow reading and texture of prose
Readers interested in old objects, travel and everyday observation
Intermediate to advanced English learners who want close-reading practice with essays
Readers who prefer contemplative reading over strong plot

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting tight plotting and a clear storyline
Beginners who need systematic literary history or annotated guidance
Readers who want quick information and are unwilling to slow down

Reading tips

Read only a short section at a time, then pause and note one observation that resonates with you.
Keep paper or a digital notebook and copy out lines worth revisiting, adding a brief response.
Choose a quiet time to read, avoiding rushed page-turning in fragmented moments.
For English study, read a paragraph through first, then revisit long sentence structures to feel the rhythm of the prose.

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 or an essay collection?

Given the author's style and what the title suggests, it is closer to prose writing centred on observation, recollection and reflection than on plot. Treat it as a collection of essays, attending to texture and tone rather than looking for a complete storyline.

How difficult is the English?

It belongs to English literature, with expansive sentences and careful diction; the difficulty is moderate to high, better suited to readers with some English reading experience who are willing to read slowly. Use a dictionary for unfamiliar words, but do not look up every one; grasp the paragraph's meaning and tone first.

Is it suitable for reading in one sitting?

Not really. Prose of this kind is better read in installments, a short section at a time, leaving room for afterthought. Reading straight through quickly tends to blur details and shifts in tone, weakening the experience.

Do I need to know the author's background to read it?

No prior research is necessary. Start directly with the text and take in the manner of observation and narration; if it interests you afterwards, learn about the author's era and writing environment. That comes naturally and does not affect a first reading.

Comments

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About the author

Henry Major Tomlinson Author · British · 1873–1958

Henry Major Tomlinson (1873–1958) was a British novelist, essayist and travel writer, born in the dockland of London's East End. He worked as a journalist, travelled along the Amazon, and reported from the First World War; these experiences provided important material for his writing. His works describe London, the sea, the tropics and the futility of war with natural feeling, and his representative books include The Sea and the Jungle, London River, Waiting for Daylight and Old Junk. His calm, evocative prose often reflects on modern civilisation through travel and personal memory, and his style has often been compared with that of Thoreau and Emerson. Four of his works are held in the collection; public information is limited, so this note focuses on his subjects and style.