The Crossing

Winston ChurchillProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.5

Word count: 1.1M words
Chapters: 112

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 Crossing by Winston ChurchillAuthor: Churchill, Winston, 1871-1947,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Oct 19, 2004

Editor's review

This is an early novel by Winston Churchill, a public-domain text classified under American and Canadian literature. Unlike the wartime statesman readers know, this book shows him trying his hand at fiction and is useful for observing his early prose and choice of subjects. The story intertwines social and personal fates against its period background, and shows the narrative habits of English-language fiction from the late nineteenth to the early twentieth century. Its value lies more in literary history and author studies: readers can see the verbal craft, scene management and character portrayal of the future politician. As a Project Gutenberg ebook it is easy to obtain, but it has no modern introduction or notes, so first-time readers must supply the historical background themselves. On the whole it suits extended reading rather than as a first choice.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in Churchill's life and early writing
Literary readers who enjoy English-language fiction of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries
Researchers of Anglo-American literature or of political figures' writing
Enthusiasts looking to broaden their reading of public-domain English novels

Not a good fit for

Readers who only want Churchill's political memoirs or histories
Beginners in English reading who need modern notes and introductions
Readers who prefer fast-paced contemporary narrative and have limited patience for old-fashioned style

Reading tips

Learn the historical background of the novel's publication before starting; this eases discomfort with the old narrative pace.
Focus on dialogue and scene description, watching for traces of the author's later oratorical style.
If the English is hard, read chapter summaries first and then return to the text, so you don't give up midway.
After finishing, compare passages from Churchill's nonfiction to see how his fiction and political writing differ.

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 a political work by Churchill?

No. It is an early novel by Churchill, a work of fiction, not a political memoir or historical study. Read it as part of his literary output, not as a historical source.

Why is the author classified under Anglo-American literature?

The ebook's language and literature classification is American and Canadian literature, meaning it is catalogued by literary category. Churchill's identity is complex; readers may consult literary histories to understand this classification, but should not infer the book's content from it.

Does this edition have notes and an introduction?

The Project Gutenberg edition mainly provides the public-domain electronic text and usually contains no modern editor's notes, introduction or chronological background. Readers who want historical and literary context should consult relevant literary histories or studies of the author.

Is it suitable for English beginners?

Not very. The novel uses old-fashioned English narrative language, and its sentences and vocabulary pose a threshold for beginners, with no notes to help. It suits readers with a good foundation in English reading who are interested in the literature of the period.

Comments

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About the author

Winston Churchill Author · American · 1871–1947

Winston Churchill (1871–1947) was a bestselling American novelist. Born in St. Louis and a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he died in Florida in 1947. A prolific writer, he is represented here by 64 works. He is best known for historical and political novels that weave real historical settings and political issues into the lives of individuals, with solid plotting and characters marked by a strong sense of their era. His representative works include Richard Carvel, The Crisis, and The Crossing, as well as Mr. Crewe's Career, Coniston, The Inside of the Cup, and The Celebrity. His fiction often engages with social change and political life, and holds a place in American popular historical fiction. Public information on his early life and literary career is limited; this introduction is based mainly on the key facts of his life and an overview of his works.