The Limit

Ada LeversonProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.5

Word count: 319K words
Chapters: 32

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 Limit by Ada Leverson. Author: Leverson, Ada, 1862-1933. Language: English. Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature. Release Date: Mar 31, 2009

Editor's review

Ada Leverson was a British humorous novelist of the late Victorian and Edwardian eras, known for her light, witty dialogue and her delicate observation of upper-class social scenes. The Limit, one of her works, continues her vein of social comedy, presenting a gentle, gently ironic social observation through misunderstandings, propriety and self-restraint in personal dealings. This is the original English edition, distributed free by Project Gutenberg as a public-domain resource, and serves as a supplementary read for understanding the fiction of early twentieth-century British women writers. Its value lies not in strong dramatic plotting but in the subtle pleasures of verbal rhythm, conversational repartee and social detail. It is best read chapter by chapter at a relaxed pace; a little familiarity with the period will help the reader appreciate its humorous tact. As an early electronic text, it has minimal formatting and annotation, so readers need a reasonable ability to read English originals.

Who it's for

A good fit for

English-language readers who enjoy British social fiction and light comic tone
Students studying the writing style of early twentieth-century British women writers
Readers who wish to read public-domain English originals in short chapter-by-chapter sessions
Literature lovers with a strong interest in social satire and character dialogue

Not a good fit for

Readers with weak English reading skills who need Chinese annotations
Genre-fiction readers who prefer strong plots and fast-paced narrative
Researchers who need detailed introductions and scholarly annotated editions

Reading tips

Read one chapter first to get a feel for the dialogue rhythm, then decide how many chapters to read each day.
Jot down character relationships and social occasions as you read to help clarify the threads of misunderstanding.
Read alongside brief background material on early twentieth-century British society.
When you meet unfamiliar expressions, infer from context first; avoid checking every word, which can interrupt the feel of the language.

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 the original English?

According to the information, the book is distributed by Project Gutenberg in English and is an original English public-domain e-book. Readers need some ability to read English originals; the book provides no Chinese translation or detailed annotations.

Can I understand this book without annotations?

The book consists mainly of dialogue and social scenes, and the language is relatively light; readers with upper-intermediate English can usually follow it using context. If period expressions are unfamiliar, brief historical and social background material can help; there is no need to check every word.

Is it better to read it all at once or chapter by chapter?

The book's pace is relaxed and dramatic conflict is not dense, so reading it in sections by chapter suits it better. Reading one or two chapters at a time and noting changes in conversation and social tact makes it easier to appreciate the humor and irony than reading it straight through.

Comments

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About the author

Ada Leverson Author · British · 1862–1933

Ada Leverson (1862–1933) was a British novelist, born in London into a wealthy Jewish family and known for her witty comedies of manners. A close friend of Oscar Wilde, she was called "the Sphinx" by him and supported him during his trial and imprisonment. Her works focus on the emotional manoeuvring of marriage and social circles, with a light, ironic tone and a gift for revealing her characters' self-deception through dialogue and detail. Six of her works are held in this collection: Love's Shadow, Tenterhooks, The Twelfth Hour, The Limit, Love at Second Sight and Bird of Paradise. Public information is limited, and her life and work are chiefly discussed in relation to the friendships and style described above.