The Hypocrite

Thorne, Guy, 1875-1923Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.8

Word count: 183K words
Chapters: 19

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 Hypocrite by Guy ThorneAuthor: Thorne, Guy, 1875-1923,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Sep 2, 2012

Editor's review

The Hypocrite is a novel by the British writer Guy Thorne, published free in digital form by Project Gutenberg. Judging by the title and the author's period, the work centres on the moral theme of hypocrisy, with the social observation and narrative tension common to early twentieth-century English popular fiction. Thorne's writing is generally brisk and highly readable, making this a good entry point for understanding popular British literature of the period. This is a public-domain ebook of the original English text, without modern notes or introduction, so readers must deal with the language and period background on their own. While reading, it is worth noting the gap between what characters say and what they do, and how the narrative gradually exposes hypocrisy; this is both the key to the book and part of the pleasure, like following a piece of detection. As English-learning material, it is best used with a dictionary, paying attention to the difference between dialogue and narration.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in the theme of moral hypocrisy and early twentieth-century British fiction
English learners who want to expand their reading with public-domain English originals
Casual readers who enjoy plot-driven popular fiction with clear character relationships
Teachers and organisers who need free English texts for classes or reading-group discussion

Not a good fit for

Readers who need a Chinese translation or detailed background notes
Readers who prefer contemporary literary techniques and have limited patience for older narrative styles
Beginners with weak English who find it hard to read a full-length English novel on their own

Reading tips

While reading, note details of the protagonist's inconsistent words and deeds, and trace how the hypocrisy is gradually exposed
Read through the plot first, then return to key dialogues to appreciate the contrast between characters' outward and inner selves
Consult background material on early twentieth-century British society to understand the book's moral issues
If time is limited, read in chapter-by-chapter sessions and briefly summarise the main points after each chapter

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 is the language and edition of this book?

According to Project Gutenberg, this is a public-domain ebook of the original English text; the language is English, it is classified under English literature, and no Chinese translation or modern notes are provided. Readers can read the original directly or use a dictionary or background material for support.

What exactly does the hypocrisy in the title refer to?

Judging by the title and the literary climate of the author's time, the work focuses on characters whose morality and behaviour do not match their outward appearance. The specific plot should be judged from the original text; while reading, note the gap between characters' public image and private conduct—this is the main clue to the book's theme.

Is it suitable as material for intensive English reading?

It can serve as supplementary intensive-reading material. The novel moves through narrative and dialogue in relatively accessible language, good for practising plot summary and character analysis; but the public-domain book has no notes, so it is advisable to have a dictionary and a little background knowledge of the period for better results.

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About the author

Thorne, Guy, 1875-1923 Author

Guy Thorne (1875–1923) was an English novelist active in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Public information about his life is limited, and many biographical details remain unclear. Seventeen of his works are held in the collection, spanning suspense, mystery, thriller, and inspirational coming-of-age fiction. His representative novel When It Was Dark: The Story of a Great Conspiracy builds its mystery around religious and social crisis, while The City in the Clouds, House of Torment, The Soul Stealer, The Angel, A Butterfly on the Wheel, Chance in Chains: A Story of Monte Carlo, and The Air Pirate often involve mysterious events, criminal conspiracies, and adventure. His writing emphasizes suspense and atmosphere, with tightly plotted narratives in which characters face moral and fatal tests; some works also carry an inspirational, growth-oriented tone, offering a glimpse of the popular fiction tastes of his time.