Simon Called Peter

Keable, Robert, 1887-1927Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.9

Word count: 611K words
Chapters: 62

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.Simon Called Peter by Robert KeableAuthor: Keable, Robert, 1887-1927,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Jan 3, 2005

Editor's review

Simon Called Peter is a novel by the English author Robert Keable (1887–1927). A work of English literature, it is now available as a free e-book from Project Gutenberg. Keable himself served as a wartime chaplain, and this background gives the novel a strong sense of immediacy in its depiction of his characters' spiritual predicaments and struggles with faith. The work centers on the protagonist's experiences and touches on themes such as religious belief, wartime life, and emotional choices; its narrative carries the realist style and moral reflection characteristic of early twentieth-century English fiction. For Chinese readers, the book's value lies mainly in two respects: first, as a literary sample for understanding British social attitudes and religious atmosphere after World War I; second, as a way to observe how popular fiction of the period handled the tension between faith and worldly desire. Since the original is in English and its content involves religious vocabulary specific to its era, readers with some foundation in English are advised to attempt it. It is suitable as supplementary reading for courses in English literature covering early twentieth-century fiction, and also for readers interested in war literature or religious-themed novels to read in their leisure time. One caveat: this is not a contemporary work, and its values and modes of expression bear clear marks of their time; readers should maintain a historicized perspective.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Students of English literature seeking supplementary samples of early twentieth-century British fiction
Readers interested in British society and religious atmosphere around World War I
Novel enthusiasts accustomed to reading English originals who prefer realist narrative
Researchers studying literature on war and faith themes seeking reference material

Not a good fit for

General readers with limited English reading ability who prefer a Chinese translation
Readers expecting light, entertaining plots and uncomfortable with religious speculation
Readers sensitive to early twentieth-century values who require a contemporary perspective

Reading tips

First learn about Keable's background as a wartime chaplain and the general situation of Britain in World War I before starting the text.
While reading, note the key points in the protagonist's shifts of faith to help trace the character arc.
When encountering religious terminology, you may skip it at first and prioritize grasping the plot direction and character relationships.
After finishing, compare with British war novels of the same period to contrast differences in narrative perspective.

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 in Chinese or English? Is it hard to read?

The book is in the original English, published as a free e-book by Project Gutenberg, with no Chinese translation included. The language difficulty is about average for early twentieth-century British fiction: sentences tend to be long and religious vocabulary is plentiful. Readers with university-level English reading ability can finish it with the help of a dictionary; those with weaker English are advised to find introductory materials first.

What is the author Keable's background? Does it help in understanding the novel?

Robert Keable (1887–1927) was an English author, and sources indicate that his writing relates to the social context of Britain at the time. Understanding the era around World War I in which he lived helps in grasping the novel's discussions of faith and life choices. However, public information is limited, so it is not advisable to rely excessively on the author's biography to infer specific plot points; the text itself should remain the primary basis.

Is this book suitable as English-learning material?

It can serve as extensive reading material, but it is not suitable as a beginner-level English reader. Its value lies in providing authentic literary language and period context, making it suitable for readers who already have a certain vocabulary and wish to engage with a complete English novel. If the goal is exam preparation or spoken-language training, this book is not an efficient choice; it is better used alongside materials closer to contemporary English.

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About the author

Keable, Robert, 1887-1927 Author

Robert Keable (1887–1927) was an English-language writer of the early twentieth century. Public information about his life and nationality is limited; only his birth and death years and a small number of works can be confirmed. Three of his works are included here: The Priest's Tale - Père Etienne, Peradventure or, The Silence of God, and Simon Called Peter. Judging from these titles and subjects, his writing centres on religion and the faith and inner struggles of clergy, with a reflective and spiritual quality, often involving priestly figures and themes such as the silence of God. Simon Called Peter attracted attention in its day and linked his name with religious fiction in post-war English literature. Given the limited sources, his full life, complete output and literary standing require further verification; readers may approach his works as a fragment of early twentieth-century English religious fiction.