That Pup

Butler, Ellis Parker, 1869-1937Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.7

Word count: 56K words
Chapters: 6

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.That Pup by Ellis Parker ButlerAuthor: Butler, Ellis Parker, 1869-1937,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Nov 10, 2013

Editor's review

Ellis Parker Butler was known for humorous short fiction. This public-domain work in American literature tells a light story centered on a puppy, with the flavor typical of early twentieth-century American popular fiction. The pace is brisk and the dialogue playful—ideal for readers wanting a break from heavier fare. As a public-domain ebook, it is short and plainly written, useful for sensing the tone and humor of everyday life in that era and as extensive reading material in English for building vocabulary through plot. Note that this is not a serious literary classic; its value lies mainly in entertainment and language exposure, and one should not expect deep social analysis. Treat it like a collection of short stories, read in installments, without insisting on parsing every sentence.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers looking for light English short fiction for leisure
Beginner to intermediate learners needing extensive reading material in English
Readers interested in early American popular humor writing

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting the depth and ideas of serious literature
Those who need a Chinese translation to read along
Readers who prefer long, complex plots

Reading tips

Read chapter by chapter, a short section at a time, keeping a relaxed pace.
Guess unfamiliar words before looking them up, prioritizing plot flow and reading pleasure.
After reading, retell the story's outline to practice summarizing plot in English.

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 suitable for English beginners?

The language is generally plain, but early twentieth-century usage and slang remain, which may challenge complete beginners. It suits readers at a basic level or above who are willing to use a dictionary, focusing on experiencing the story rather than understanding every word.

Is this a full-length novel?

From the public-domain record, this is a short work in American literature of modest length, suitable for reading in installments. It is not a thick novel, so readers need not worry about a long reading period and can finish it in spare moments.

What can I gain from reading this book?

The main gain is a light reading experience and a feel for early twentieth-century American popular humor, along with practice in extensive reading in English. If you seek profound ideas or social analysis, this book is not for you.

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About the author

Butler, Ellis Parker, 1869-1937 Author

Ellis Parker Butler (1869-1937) was an American writer whose life is not widely documented in Chinese-language sources, and public information about him is limited. The library holds 22 of his works, including novels and humorous short stories that often draw on everyday misunderstandings, awkward situations, and the experiences of ordinary people. He is best known for "Pigs is Pigs," a widely read tale about an absurd dispute over railway shipping of guinea pigs, celebrated for its exaggerated bureaucratic logic and light touch. "Philo Gubb, Correspondence-School Detective" features a self-taught amateur detective and gently parodies detective fiction. Other works, such as "The Water Goats, and Other Troubles," "The Great American Pie Company," "The Jack-Knife Man," and "Swatty," likewise show his talent for mild satire of small-town life, family matters, and human foibles. His easy, comic style, skilled dialogue, and plot twists give him a modest place in American popular humor.