The Hero

Maugham, W. Somerset (William Somerset), 1874-1965Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.3

Word count: 398K words
Chapters: 40

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 Hero by W. Somerset MaughamAuthor: Maugham, W. Somerset (William Somerset), 1874-1965,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Oct 27, 2008

Editor's review

The Hero is an early novel by W. Somerset Maugham, a free public-domain English eBook from Project Gutenberg. Writing in a cool, slightly ironic tone about the gap between characters and worldly judgment, Maugham builds this book around the image of the "hero"; it suits readers who want to see the early phase of his fiction. Compared with his later, more mature works, it more directly presents his observations on honor, social expectation and personal truth, with strong readability and moderate length. As a public-domain eBook, it is convenient for reading in installments on phone or computer and suitable for English learners doing literary extensive reading. Note that it is the English original and an early work, so its artistic finish should not be measured by the standard of later masterpieces such as Of Human Bondage; it is better treated as supplementary reading for understanding Maugham's development.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who want to read Maugham systematically and complete his early novels
Literature lovers who enjoy British narrative and satirical characterization
English learners using original English texts for literary extensive reading
Organizers who need free public-domain eBooks for book club selections

Not a good fit for

Readers who know only Maugham's later famous works and expect the same maturity
Beginners who need a Chinese translation or bilingual edition
Readers who prefer strong plot and fast-paced genre fiction

Reading tips

Read a chapter or two first to feel the narrative tone, then decide whether to read closely or extensively.
While reading, note the contrast between the title of "hero" and the character's actual behavior.
Read alongside Maugham's later works to observe changes in characterization and satire.
English learners can excerpt three to five long sentences per chapter for syntax and vocabulary notes.

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 The Hero Maugham's breakthrough work?

The materials only show that it is one of Maugham's novels and do not state awards or sales. It belongs to his early creative period and is useful for understanding his early phase, but it should not be simply called a breakthrough or representative work.

Does this eBook include a Chinese translation?

This is an English public-domain eBook released by Project Gutenberg and contains no Chinese translation. Chinese readers may find a legitimate Chinese translation to read alongside it or use translation tools for support.

What English level is it suitable for?

Maugham's English is generally clear, but this is a novel from the early 20th century, with some period flavor in syntax and vocabulary. Intermediate or higher English reading ability is recommended, with a dictionary for unfamiliar words, for smoother reading.

Comments

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About the author

Maugham, W. Somerset (William Somerset), 1874-1965 Author

W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) was a British novelist and playwright. Twenty-four of his works are held in this collection, covering novels, short-story collections and plays, with representative titles including Of Human Bondage, The Moon and Sixpence, The Trembling of a Leaf, The Circle, Liza of Lambeth and On a Chinese Screen. His writing ranges widely in subject, often depicting human weakness, emotional entanglement and exotic settings in a cool, restrained tone; his narratives are clear and his characters sharply drawn, combining readability with irony. His works circulated widely in twentieth-century English literature and have influenced both popular and serious fiction. As public information is limited, his detailed life and career are not elaborated here.