The Goldfish

Train, Arthur Cheney, 1875-1945Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 350K words
Chapters: 35

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 "Goldfish" by Arthur Cheney TrainAuthor: Train, Arthur Cheney, 1875-1945,Language: English, Class: HB: Social sciences: Economic theory, Demography, Release Date: Jul 16, 2004

Editor's review

The Goldfish by Arthur Cheney Train is a public-domain work catalogued under social sciences and economic theory rather than as pure entertainment. Judging from its title and classification, it more likely revolves around some metaphor of wealth, speculation, or economic life, written in the author's characteristic tone of observation and satire. As a text from an early e-book project, it is short and plainly written, making it useful for observing how early twentieth-century American popular writing talked about money and human nature. Its value lies not in presenting a systematic economic doctrine but in offering a narrative expression of a period's desire for wealth. Readers can approach it as a short piece of social observation, noting how the title image is used in the text and how the author refracts economic themes through specific characters or situations. Compared with economic commentary or satirical fiction of the same period, this small book offers a light entry point and also suits extensive reading practice for public-domain English short works.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in early twentieth-century American popular writing and economic themes
Learners looking for short public-domain English texts for extensive reading practice
Literary readers who enjoy social observation and a satirical tone
Readers who need light material to understand metaphors of wealth narratives

Not a good fit for

Readers hoping to systematically study economic theory or data analysis
Readers expecting long plots and complex character arcs
Beginners who need a Chinese translation and detailed annotations

Reading tips

Read through once to grasp the overall tone, then revisit where the title image appears in the text.
Read it as a short piece of social observation, noting how the author uses concrete situations to discuss money.
Compare it with other American short works on economic themes from the same period to compare narrative strategies.
For extensive English reading, do not look up every word; aim first for the general meaning and tone.

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 an economics treatise or a literary work?

It is catalogued under social sciences and economic theory, but judging from the title and the author's background, it is closer to short narrative or social observation on economic life than to a systematic economics treatise. Read it as a literary work and pay attention to how the author uses story and imagery to discuss wealth, rather than looking for a theoretical framework.

Is it long? Is it suitable for reading in fragmented time?

As a text from an early public-domain e-book project, it is usually short and plainly written, suitable for reading in segments. Readers can finish it over several commutes or short sessions, but it is best to pause after each session and revisit the connection between the title image and the money theme, rather than rushing and missing the tone.

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

No. The book can be read independently, and the materials do not indicate that it depends on prior context from the author's other works. If you are interested in early twentieth-century American popular writing and economic satire, however, you can seek out similar short works from the same period for comparison after reading, which will help you better appreciate the book's tone and historical context.

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About the author

Train, Arthur Cheney, 1875-1945 Author

Arthur Cheney Train (1875–1945) was an American writer; public information about him is limited. His experience as a prosecutor provided rich material for his writing, which focuses largely on crime and the justice system. Nine of his works are held in this collection, including nonfiction crime accounts such as True Stories of Crime From the District Attorney's Office and The Prisoner at the Bar, as well as novels set among lawyers and courtrooms, such as Tutt and Mr. Tutt, McAllister and His Double, Mortmain, and The Goldfish. His style blends documentary realism with dramatic narrative, using cases to reveal the complexities of legal procedure and human nature, and his lawyers are clever and witty figures. These works have had a certain influence on popular literature and legal-themed writing.