The Babe, B.A.

Benson, E. F. (Edward Frederic), 1867-1940Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.4

Word count: 298K words
Chapters: 30

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 Babe, B.A. by E. F. BensonAuthor: Benson, E. F. (Edward Frederic), 1867-1940,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Apr 15, 2018

Editor's review

E. F. Benson was a prolific British novelist, and The Babe, B.A. is a light-hearted novel about campus life and young people entering society, a typical example of British humorous fiction. This book comes from Project Gutenberg as a public-domain eBook, easy to access and suitable for readers who want to explore early twentieth-century British popular fiction or enjoy brisk reading in short chapters. Its value lies not in deep social criticism but in the wit of its dialogue and its gentle teasing of college life at the time. Because it is in the original English and dates from an early period, some slang and allusions may require notes or checking. It suits reading in segments on a commute, before bed, or while traveling; there is no need to pursue tight plot continuity—rather, enjoy the humor of the language and scenes. If you are collecting public-domain English literary resources, this can serve as an introductory sample of Benson's style.

Who it's for

A good fit for

English-language readers who want easy access to early twentieth-century British fiction
General readers who enjoy campus settings and British humor
Readers or collectors who need public-domain eBook resources
Learners with some English proficiency willing to look up old-fashioned expressions

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting deep social criticism or complex plots
Readers with weak English who do not want to deal with old-fashioned slang
People who only want Chinese translations and will not read the original

Reading tips

Read the first two chapters to get a feel for the language style, then decide whether to read the whole book.
Mark old-fashioned slang or college allusions as you go, and look them up together after finishing.
Read in segments by chapter, one or two at a time, to keep a brisk pace.
You may compare it with other works by Benson to appreciate the consistency of his 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

Does this book require a high level of English?

Not very high, but you need to be able to read ordinary English narrative. Some early twentieth-century slang and college-life expressions may hinder understanding; keep a dictionary or notes handy and look things up as you read.

Is this a paper book or an eBook?

This is a public-domain eBook provided by Project Gutenberg, usually available free in electronic text form, not a paper book from a traditional publisher. The specific format depends on the version you download.

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

No prior study is necessary. It is enough to know that Benson was a British novelist whose works often feature humor and everyday observation. If you are interested afterward, learning about his other works and the era will not affect your first reading.

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About the author

Benson, E. F. (Edward Frederic), 1867-1940 Author

E. F. Benson (full name Edward Frederic Benson, 1867–1940) was a British writer, though public information about his life and nationality available in our records is limited. The collection holds 42 of his works, spanning a wide range of subjects: social comedies such as Queen Lucia and Miss Mapp, satirical sketches such as The Freaks of Mayfair, and novels including Scarlet and Hyssop, The Relentless City, The Angel of Pain and An Autumn Sowing. His writing is marked by witty dialogue and gentle satire, and he excelled at portraying comic figures in provincial towns and upper-class social circles. Light in tone and neatly constructed, his work has a distinctive place in early twentieth-century British popular fiction and is still enjoyed by readers today.