The Monster

Saltus, Edgar, 1855-1921Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 248K words
Chapters: 25

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 Monster by Edgar SaltusAuthor: Saltus, Edgar, 1855-1921,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Dec 13, 2014

Editor's review

Edgar Saltus was an American writer, and The Monster is classified under American and Canadian literature, presented in novel form. Judging from the title and the author's characteristic style, the work carries psychological suspense and an examination of human nature; the narrative may center on a being called "the monster," exploring the tension between fear, the other, and self-perception. As a Project Gutenberg public-domain eBook, it is short, and its language leans toward the literary expression of the early twentieth century, making it a useful supplementary read for understanding the origins of American popular fiction and psychological themes. While reading, pay attention to how the narrative perspective shapes the image of "the monster," and how the author creates a sense of oppression through atmosphere rather than explicit description. If you are used to the fast pace of modern suspense, you may need to adjust your expectations and enter it slowly as a literary text with the flavor of its era.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy late nineteenth- to early twentieth-century American literature and want to broaden their reading range
Fiction readers interested in psychological suspense, human nature, and the theme of "the other"
Teachers and students who need a short public-domain English text for literary analysis or classroom discussion
Casual readers who prefer slow reading and are willing to savor the atmosphere of old-fashioned literary language

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer fast-paced modern thrillers and demand dense plot twists
Beginners with weak English who need extensive notes to understand old-fashioned literary language
Readers seeking clear moral conclusions or adolescent coming-of-age guidance

Reading tips

Read through once to grasp the story's direction, then revisit key passages and note how the image of "the monster" is constructed by the narrative
Record shifts in narrative perspective as you read, and consider why the author lets readers come to know this being through others' eyes
You may combine this with the American literary context of the author's time and understand the work within the lineage of public-domain popular fiction
If the language is too difficult, read a Chinese summary first, then read the original and focus your energy on atmosphere and character psychology

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 horror novel?

The materials only identify it as a novel by Edgar Saltus, classified under American literature, with no detailed plot summary. Judging from the title and the author's style, it is closer to literary fiction with psychological suspense and an exploration of human nature than to modern horror focused on gore or jump scares. Readers may approach it as an atmospheric text.

Can I read it without having read other works by the author?

Yes. This is a standalone novel and does not depend on prior works. Readers only need basic patience with the language style of early twentieth-century American literature to get into it; not knowing the author's background does not affect understanding the story itself.

Does this edition include an introduction or notes?

Project Gutenberg editions usually preserve the public-domain original text without adding a modern introduction or detailed notes. If readers need background information, they can look up the author's life and the literary materials of the era, or use a dictionary to handle old-fashioned expressions.

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About the author

Saltus, Edgar, 1855-1921 Author

Edgar Saltus (1855–1921) was an American writer whose life and education are poorly documented in publicly available sources; the library currently holds fifteen of his works. His subject matter is notably varied. He produced popular cultural histories built around broad themes, such as Historia Amoris: A History of Love, Ancient and Modern and The Lords of the Ghostland: A History of the Ideal, as well as Imperial Purple, a work centered on the Roman Empire, and essays with a speculative, pessimistic bent in The Philosophy of Disenchantment. His novels, including The Truth About Tristrem Varick, Eden: An Episode and Mr. Incoul's Misadventure, often draw on upper-class society and combine satire with sensational incident in an ornate, faintly decadent style. The library classifies him under inspirational and personal growth, but his work is in fact a blend of popular history, reflective essay and plot-driven fiction, suited to readers interested in late nineteenth-century American popular genres.