The Dictator

Justin McCarthyProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.1

Word count: 628K words
Chapters: 63

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 Dictator by Justin McCarthyAuthor: McCarthy, Justin, 1830-1912,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: May 28, 2007

Editor's review

This novel comes from the nineteenth-century Irish writer and politician Justin McCarthy and belongs to English literature; it is now offered by Project Gutenberg as a free eBook. McCarthy was long active in British politics and literary circles, and his writing often reflects an observational eye on society and power; this book lets readers glimpse the narrative pleasures of Victorian popular fiction. As a public-domain eBook, its notable value lies in its extremely low barrier to access and complete text, making it a suitable introductory sample for understanding the face of nineteenth-century English fiction and a resource for readers studying popular literature and political writing. It is best read in the context of nineteenth-century serial fiction and the tradition of political satire, rather than judged by the tight standards of contemporary novels. Since the original is in English, readers with some English reading ability are advised to choose it, reading alongside biographical and historical background for a fuller appreciation.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in nineteenth-century English literature who want to broaden their reading
Students studying Victorian popular fiction and political writing
English learners who want free access to public-domain English originals
Readers who enjoy observing social and power issues in old novels

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking strong plots and fast-paced contemporary fiction
Beginners whose English is not yet proficient and who need a Chinese translation
Readers seeking detailed biographical scholarship or scholarly annotations

Reading tips

Read the author's short biography and the background of nineteenth-century British politics before entering the text; characters' words and actions will be easier to understand.
Proceed chapter by chapter and take brief notes on character relationships to avoid confusion from the large cast.
Skip unfamiliar historical terms at first and look them up after finishing a chapter, keeping the reading rhythm.

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 in Chinese or English, and how demanding is it?

Sources indicate the original language is English, and it belongs to English literature. It is not modern simplified English; its sentence patterns and vocabulary carry nineteenth-century features, so readers with intermediate or higher English reading ability are more suitable. Beginners may read with a dictionary or a parallel translation.

What are the features of the Project Gutenberg edition?

Project Gutenberg is the earliest project providing free eBooks, founded by Michael Hart in 1971. This edition is a free public-domain eBook with a complete text that is easy to obtain, but it usually includes no modern scholarly annotations or introduction, so readers must supply background materials themselves.

Can I understand it without annotations?

You can follow the main storyline, but the historical background and political context may require extra checking. It is advisable first to understand the general features of nineteenth-century British politics and popular fiction, or to note questions while reading and look up materials afterward for a fuller understanding.

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About the author

Justin McCarthy Author · Irish · 1830–1912

Justin McCarthy (1830–1912) was an Irish historian, novelist and politician born in Cork. He first made his name with the novel Dear Lady Disdain, then turned mainly to history, writing A History of Our Own Times and A History of the Four Georges, works noted for clear narrative and careful character portrayal that brought British political and dynastic history to general readers. He also wrote biographical studies of cultural figures such as George Sand, and collections of sketches including British Political Leaders and Modern Leaders. As a member of the British House of Commons, he advocated Irish home rule. Six of his works are held here, commonly classified under inspirational growth.