The Messenger

Elizabeth RobinsProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.4

Word count: 610K words
Chapters: 61

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 Messenger by Elizabeth Robins. Author: Robins, Elizabeth, 1862-1952. Language: English. Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature. Release Date: Mar 24, 2011

Editor's review

The Messenger is a novel by the British writer Elizabeth Robins (1862–1952), released free of charge by Project Gutenberg as an English-language e-book. Robins was an active playwright and novelist from the late nineteenth to the early twentieth century and was also involved in the women's social movement; her work often concerns women's circumstances and moral dilemmas. The Messenger continues her characteristic psychological portrayal of character and social observation, with a steady narrative pace and the flavor of late Victorian fiction. As a public-domain e-book, its value lies not only in the text itself but also in offering readers studying the evolution of Anglo-American literature, women's writing, and popular fiction of this period directly accessible primary material. When reading, note the language conventions and historical background of the English original; the plot moves slowly, so it suits readers willing to enter classical narrative patiently. Those used to fast-paced modern fiction may need to adjust their expectations. Approach it out of an interest in literary history rather than a desire for strong plot excitement.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Literary readers interested in late Victorian to early twentieth-century Anglo-American fiction
Literature students studying women's writing and social issues
Readers who want free access to public-domain English classics
Readers who prefer steady psychological portrayal over strong plot

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer fast-paced modern genre fiction with strong suspense
Beginners with limited English reading ability who need Chinese support
Readers expecting an author biography or a detailed annotated edition

Reading tips

Read the first two chapters first to grasp the character relationships and period atmosphere, then decide your reading pace
Keep an English dictionary or electronic lookup tool handy to deal with unfamiliar expressions as you go
Understand the characters' motives in light of the women's movement of Robins's time
Read one chapter at a time and briefly note character changes to avoid losing focus in long passages

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 a Chinese edition?

No. This is the English-language original e-book released by Project Gutenberg, with the main text in English. It suits readers with some foundation in English reading, and currently contains no Chinese translation.

Why is this book available for free?

The author, Elizabeth Robins, died in 1952, and her work has entered the public domain in most regions. Project Gutenberg accordingly produces and offers the electronic text free of charge for reading and research.

What background should I know before reading?

It helps to know something about British society and literary culture from the late nineteenth to the early twentieth century, especially general knowledge of women's writing and the women's movement of the time. You need not have read the author's other works first; you can go directly into this book.

Does the e-book include notes or an introduction?

According to the available information, this is a public-domain electronic text provided by Project Gutenberg, mainly presenting the original work, with no stated scholarly notes or introduction. For deeper background, consult literary history sources separately.

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About the author

Elizabeth Robins Author · American · 1862–1952

Elizabeth Robins (1862–1952) was an American-born actress, playwright, novelist and suffragist, who often wrote under the pen name C. E. Raimond. She brought Ibsen's plays to the British stage and became widely known for starring in Hedda Gabler, gaining significant standing in the theatre. Her writing spans fiction and drama: her novels include The Magnetic North, The Convert, The Messenger, My Little Sister, The Open Question: A Tale of Two Temperaments and Under the Southern Cross, often focusing on social realities and women's circumstances with a nuanced, critical touch; in drama, her suffrage play Votes for Women: A Play in Three Acts is especially pioneering, directly echoing the contemporary movement for women's right to vote. Seven of her works are held in the collection; public information is limited and no more detailed biographical record is available.