Tarr

Lewis, Wyndham, 1882-1957Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.0

Word count: 595K words
Chapters: 60

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.Tarr by Wyndham LewisAuthor: Lewis, Wyndham, 1882-1957,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Nov 24, 2018

Editor's review

Tarr is a novel by Wyndham Lewis and an important entry point for understanding his literary ideas and artistic stance. Centered on a group of artists living in Paris, it depicts the vanity, rivalry, and emotional entanglements of the bohemian circle with a sharp, even caustic touch; the prose is dense and the irony strong. Its strength lies not in telling a good story but in presenting both the self-mythologizing and the self-dismantling of the modernist movement at once: readers can glimpse the spirit of the early twentieth-century avant-garde and feel the author's merciless eye for hypocrisy. As a public-domain ebook, it suits as extended reading for courses on modernist literature, or as a prickly period sketch for readers interested in the ecology of the art world. A caveat: the narrative style leans heavily on argument and verbal sparring, the characters are not necessarily likable, and the reading experience is closer to intellectual combat than emotional immersion.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Students of twentieth-century modernist literature who need to know Lewis's work
Readers interested in the history of the Paris bohemian art circle
Advanced readers who enjoy satirical, argumentative narrative styles
Those in art history or cultural studies who need primary text material

Not a good fit for

General fiction readers who prefer warm storytelling or strong plot momentum
Readers uncomfortable with caustic irony and characters clashing
Beginners seeking a scholarly edition with detailed annotations

Reading tips

Read the first few chapters to become familiar with the characters and narrative tone before deciding whether to slow down for close reading of dialogue.
As you read, track who among the artists is competing for discursive authority; this helps clarify the novel's satirical targets.
Consult basic background on the modernist movement to understand the artistic issues referenced in the debates.
If the prose feels too dense, read in sections and make brief notes after each chapter.

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

Can I understand this book without a background in modernist literature?

Yes, but it takes some patience. The character relationships and debates rely on a rough familiarity with the artistic atmosphere of the time. Reading a general introduction to the modernist movement and the artists living in Paris before entering the text will make understanding much smoother.

Why does the language style feel somewhat demanding?

Lewis's narration uses many long sentences, irony, and dense dialogue among characters; argument outweighs plot momentum. This is a feature of the style, not a translation or formatting issue. Reading slowly, chapter by chapter, and focusing on clashes of position among characters will be more effective than chasing speed.

Does this public-domain ebook edition include an introduction or notes?

This edition comes from a public-domain ebook project and usually provides only the main text, without a scholarly introduction or detailed notes. For background explanation, consult literary histories separately or use a print edition with an introduction alongside it.

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About the author

Lewis, Wyndham, 1882-1957 Author

Wyndham Lewis (1882–1957) was a British writer and painter known for his activities in avant-garde art and literature. Only one of his works is held in this collection, the novel Tarr. Set against the lives of artists in Paris and London, the novel revolves around personal relationships and intellectual conflicts within artistic circles. Its tone is satirical and argumentative, reflecting Lewis's observation and critique of the modern art world. Public information is limited, so biographical details are not expanded here; the focus is on the subject matter and style of Tarr. The work features sharp language and cartoonishly exaggerated characterization, and is often regarded as an important text for studying early twentieth-century British avant-garde literature. For Chinese readers, attention to its satirical tone and the context of artistic debate will help capture Lewis's distinctive writing temperament.