The Dark Tower

Phyllis BottomeProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.5

Word count: 376K words
Chapters: 38

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 Dark Tower by Phyllis BottomeAuthor: Bottome, Phyllis, 1884-1963,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Jun 18, 2008

Editor's review

The Dark Tower is a novel by the British author Phyllis Bottome (1884–1963), released as a free ebook by Project Gutenberg. Bottome herself experienced war and exile, and her works often focus on moral choices and psychological shifts under pressure—a background that lends the book an extra layer of human observation beyond its plot. The book falls under English literature, is moderate in length, and is written in English, making it a suitable introduction to English fiction of the first half of the twentieth century. The Gutenberg edition is easy to obtain on a computer, tablet, or e-reader, can be downloaded free of charge, and suits segmented reading during commutes, travel, and other spare moments. Readers might treat it as a literary exploration: first learn about the era the author lived in, then enter the story, paying attention to the conflicts of values revealed in dialogue and scene description. Because it is a public-domain ebook, the edition has no modern annotations; when encountering unfamiliar expressions, consult a dictionary or a translated version.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Literature lovers who want to read public-domain English fiction for free
Readers who wish to understand English literature of the first half of the twentieth century
Students who need original English materials for reading practice
People who like fragmented reading on electronic devices

Not a good fit for

Beginners who need modern annotations or an introduction
Readers who prefer the pace of contemporary bestsellers
People unaccustomed to reading English originals

Reading tips

Read a chapter or two first to get a feel for the language style, then decide whether to read closely or extensively.
Keep a vocabulary notebook, record recurring expressions, and review them regularly.
While reading, note the characters' choices in difficult situations and consider the author's value orientations.
Pair the reading with materials on the author's life and historical background to deepen your understanding of the text.

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

What language is this book written in?

The original text is in English and belongs to English literature. The Gutenberg edition preserves the original without Chinese translation, so a certain level of English reading ability is needed.

Where can I read this book?

The book is released by Project Gutenberg and can be downloaded free from its website as an ebook, supported on computers and various e-readers. As a public-domain ebook, it is usually free of charge.

What background knowledge do I need to read this book?

No specialized background knowledge is required to read it, but understanding the general landscape of English literature in the first half of the twentieth century and the author's era will help in grasping the characters' situations and themes. You may skim the author's biography before starting the main text.

Does this edition have annotations or an introduction?

The Gutenberg edition mainly presents the original text and generally does not include modern annotations or an introduction. When encountering difficult passages, use a dictionary, a translation, or related literary materials for support.

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About the author

Phyllis Bottome Author · British · 1884–1963

Phyllis Bottome (1884–1963) was a British novelist. Her fiction focuses largely on women's psychology and social issues, and she was skilled at revealing, through her characters' inner lives, how individuals struggle and make choices within real circumstances. Two of her works are held in this collection: The Dark Tower and The Second Fiddle; she also wrote The Private Worlds of Julia Reed. Publicly available material on her life is limited, so further biographical detail cannot be given here. Overall, her writing is notable for psychological portraiture and for its attention to the tension between social norms and personal will, giving her work a measure of social observation and a distinctive voice in twentieth-century British fiction.