Quite So

Aldrich, Thomas Bailey, 1836-1907Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.8

Word count: 27K 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.Quite So by Thomas Bailey AldrichAuthor: Aldrich, Thomas Bailey, 1836-1907,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Nov 6, 2007

Editor's review

"Quite So" is a work by Thomas Bailey Aldrich (1836–1907), included in the Project Gutenberg public-domain ebook library. In American literary history Aldrich is known for poetry, short stories and essays; his prose is polished, and his tone often carries gentle humor and understated irony. This book belongs to the public-domain texts of American literature and serves as a good entry point for understanding the essay style of nineteenth-century American men of letters. In reading such works, the point is not plot progression but the rhythm of the language, the wit of the phrasing, and the author's observation of everyday people and affairs. Because it is an old work, some allusions, slang and social context require readers to fill in the background themselves, and the reading pace should be slow. It is best read as a collection of short pieces or essays, a small section at a time, paying attention to shifts in syntax and tone; if used for English study, favorite passages can be selected for reading aloud and imitation writing. Overall, it suits readers with patience for old-fashioned English prose rather than those seeking strong storytelling.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in nineteenth-century American prose and essays
Literature lovers who enjoy close reading of language and savoring phrasing and humor
Learners with some English foundation who want intensive reading and imitation writing
Beginning readers studying public-domain texts of American literary history

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a complete full-length story with strong plot momentum
Those with little English reading experience who hope to start with easy readers
Readers impatient with old-fashioned expressions and period allusions

Reading tips

Read in short pieces or sections, taking in only a small portion at a time and leaving time to savor the language.
Choose passages with a distinctive tone to read aloud, feeling the rhythm of the sentences and the author's voice.
Mark allusions or old-fashioned expressions first, then look them up and note them after finishing a section.
For writing study, imitate a paragraph or two, copying its sentence patterns and sense of humor.

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 full-length novel?

From the available information, it is a public-domain literary work by Thomas Bailey Aldrich, classified under American literature, but the description does not specify its genre or length. Aldrich is known for poetry and essays, so readers should treat it as a literary text for close reading rather than expect a novel with continuous plot; before starting, browse the table of contents or the opening to judge the genre.

Can readers with average English read this book?

Some foundation is needed. The sentence patterns and vocabulary of nineteenth-century American prose are distant from contemporary English, and the allusions and humor depend on context. It suits intermediate-level readers and above who are willing to look up words and read slowly; those with less reading experience should start with simpler materials or try only short passages.

Do I need to know the author's life to read this book?

Not essential, but helpful. Understanding the author's era and literary tastes makes the tone and irony easier to grasp. General readers can read the text first and look up background where they get stuck; researchers should read it in the context of nineteenth-century American literature and publishing, and avoid taking statements in the text directly as historical fact.

Is this book suitable as extensive reading material for English?

Not very suitable for speed-oriented extensive reading. Its value lies more in the texture of the language and the interest of its tone; it suits intensive reading, reading aloud and imitation writing. If extensive reading is desired, break it into very small units, read one or two pages at a time and write a brief summary, but do not expect a complete story experience from rapid page-turning.

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About the author

Aldrich, Thomas Bailey, 1836-1907 Author

Thomas Bailey Aldrich (1836–1907) was an American writer and poet. The library holds 19 of his works, spanning fiction, poetry, and essays. Among them, The Story of a Bad Boy is the best known, alongside novels such as The Queen of Sheba, Marjorie Daw, and Daisy's Necklace, and poetry collections including The Sisters' Tragedy, with Other Poems, Lyrical and Dramatic. His writing often depicts childhood and everyday characters in a light, humorous tone, with fresh narration and a strong sense of life. The Story of a Bad Boy is regarded as a pioneering work of coming-of-age fiction told from a boy's perspective, and it has influenced later American juvenile literature. Public information on the details of his life is limited, so this entry makes no speculation.