The Alchemist

Ben JonsonProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.5

Word count: 70K words
Chapters: 7

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.The Alchemist by Ben JonsonAuthor: Jonson, Ben, 1573?-1637,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: May 1, 2003

Editor's review

This is the public-domain electronic text of The Alchemist, Ben Jonson's representative comedy. An early modern English play set during a plague outbreak in London, it spins a chain of cons and swindles around rogues, gamblers and greed, with razor-sharp dialogue and a tight structure. It is a comedy sample often cited in English literature courses, and it also lets general readers feel the street life and satirical edge of seventeenth-century London. Its value lies in Jonson's cool-eyed observation of human weakness and the puns and colloquial humor in the dialogue, rather than in warm plot turns or the smooth narrative flow of a modern novel. It suits close reading of dramatic texts, as supplementary material for English literary history, or for readers interested in early modern English who are willing to work through it slowly with notes. As a public-domain ebook it usually lacks modern annotation and introduction, so readers should bring their own background knowledge or use it alongside a course.

Who it's for

A good fit for

English literature students who need to study early modern comic texts
Readers interested in seventeenth-century London society and drama
Literature lovers who enjoy satirical comedy and sharp dialogue
Those who need a public-domain English play text for course or research support

Not a good fit for

General readers expecting an easy, modern-novel reading experience
Readers with weak English who struggle with early modern English
Beginners who need detailed modern annotation and introductions

Reading tips

Learn about the London plague background and the basic features of Jonson's comedy before reading the text
Use a modern English translation or course notes to sort out the characters and the chain of cons
Choose the climactic con scenes and read them aloud to feel the rhythm of the dialogue and the satire
After finishing, go back to the opening character introductions to clarify each role's function in the cons

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 novel or a play?

It is Ben Jonson's comedy script, arranged in scenes and character dialogue, not a novel in the modern sense. Readers need to adjust to the dramatic format and focus on dialogue and stage directions rather than continuous narrative description.

Can I understand it without notes?

Public-domain electronic texts usually lack modern annotation, and the slang and puns of early modern English may get in the way. It is best to read alongside a literature course, introductory materials or a modern translation: first grasp the main line of the cons, then examine the language in detail.

Is it suitable as English-learning material?

It can serve as supplementary material for English literature majors or advanced English learners, but it is not suitable as a general English textbook. The language is from an early period, and the sentences and dialogue are difficult, so a certain foundation in English literature is required.

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About the author

Ben Jonson Author · English · 1573–1637

Ben Jonson (1573?–1637) was an English playwright, poet, and actor of the Renaissance, born in London. In 1616 he published a collected edition of his plays on his own initiative, and in 1619 he was named Poet Laureate. He is best known for his satirical comedies, including Volpone Or, The Fox, The Alchemist, Epicoene Or, The Silent Woman, Bartholomew Fair: A Comedy, The Devil is an Ass, and Every Man in His Humour, as well as Discoveries Made Upon Men and Matter and Some Poems. Drawing largely on urban life, these works are marked by a cool, witty tone and sharp commentary on human weakness and social manners, and they exerted a lasting influence on seventeenth-century English drama. Twelve of his works are held in this collection; further biographical details are limited in publicly available sources.