Peccavi

Hornung, E. W. (Ernest William), 1866-1921Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.2

Word count: 569K words
Chapters: 57

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.Peccavi by E. W. HornungAuthor: Hornung, E. W. (Ernest William), 1866-1921,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: May 15, 2011

Editor's review

Peccavi is a novel by the British writer E. W. Hornung, classified under English language and literature. Hornung was known for creating characters of moral ambiguity, and the title, from the Latin for "I have sinned," suggests a narrative centered on guilt, confession, and redemption. As a free Project Gutenberg public-domain eBook, its value lies in giving readers easy access to a late nineteenth-century British popular novel in its original form: it is strongly plotted, its characters face moral tension, and it suits readers studying the narrative techniques and ethical themes of late Victorian fiction. The text is in English, in a popular narrative style of moderate reading difficulty. Since the public-domain edition lacks a modern introduction, readers are advised to learn about the author's era and the popular literary tradition before entering the text. While reading, attend to the buildup of character motivation and the control of narrative pace, and it can also serve as supplementary reading for English literature courses.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in late nineteenth-century British popular fiction and ethical themes
English literature students and scholars of late Victorian narrative
Learners who want free public-domain English novels for long-form reading practice
Readers who enjoy themes of guilt and redemption and can accept classical narrative pacing

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer contemporary fast-paced suspense or heavily plotted twists
Readers with weak English who need a Chinese translation to read smoothly
Beginners expecting a modern introduction and detailed annotations

Reading tips

First learn the Latin meaning of the title "Peccavi," then read with the threads of guilt and redemption in mind.
Read chapter by chapter and note changes in character relationships to avoid getting lost in the classical pacing.
After finishing, review the key turning points and analyze how the author presents moral dilemmas through plot arrangement.
Read alongside other British novels of the same period to compare common approaches to ethical themes in popular literature.

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 does the title "Peccavi" mean?

"Peccavi" is Latin for "I have sinned" or "I am guilty," often used as an expression of admitting fault. The title suggests the novel centers on guilt, confession, and redemption; while reading, note how the characters face their own faults and their consequences.

Is this book suitable for English beginners?

Not very. The original is a late nineteenth-century English novel whose sentence patterns and vocabulary carry period features, and the public-domain edition has no modern annotations or Chinese parallel text. Intermediate to advanced English reading ability is recommended, or use of dictionaries and background materials; beginners might start with an annotated or translated edition.

What else did Hornung write besides this book?

According to public-domain general knowledge, E. W. Hornung is known for a series of novels featuring a gentleman thief, and his work often deals with adventure and moral boundaries. This book continues his interest in his characters' moral predicaments. To compare his narrative style, look up his other public-domain works after finishing this book.

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About the author

Hornung, E. W. (Ernest William), 1866-1921 Author

E. W. Hornung (Ernest William Hornung, 1866–1921) was a British author best known for creating the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles. The collection here holds twenty-nine of his works, including the Raffles stories such as The Amateur Cracksman, Raffles: Further Adventures of the Amateur Cracksman and A Thief in the Night, as well as crime and adventure novels like Stingaree and Dead Men Tell No Tales, and Notes of a Camp-Follower on the Western Front, based on his experiences in the First World War. His writing is brisk and neatly plotted, with a polished tone suited to characters who live on the edge of the law, and it holds a place in the traditions of crime and adventure fiction. Public information about his life is limited, so this introduction concentrates on his subjects and style.