The Nation's Peril

AnonymousProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.0

Word count: 246K 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 Nation's Peril. by AnonymousAuthor: Anonymous,Language: English, Class: E660: History: America: Late nineteenth century (1865-1900), Release Date: Mar 15, 2011

Editor's review

The Nation's Peril. is an anonymously published pamphlet-like work, classified by Project Gutenberg under the history of the late nineteenth-century United States (1865–1900) and circulated as a free ebook. Judging by its title and classification, it belongs to the public-issue writing of its era, with a clear argumentative and warning tone, reflecting anxieties in post-Civil War American society over politics, morality, or public order. Its value is chiefly documentary and textual: it offers a concrete sample for readers studying late nineteenth-century American public opinion, the style of political pamphleteering, and the expressive strategies of anonymous authors. Because the author is anonymous and information on length and background is limited, readers should not expect systematic historical analysis or complete argument; treat it as a slice for understanding the discursive atmosphere of the age. Read it alongside the historical background of Reconstruction, distinguish the author's claims from historical fact, and keep a critical distance from possible bias.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Scholars studying late nineteenth-century American public opinion and political writing
Advanced readers interested in the historical background of the post-Civil War United States
Literary and historical researchers needing sample texts of anonymous political pamphlets
English readers who enjoy reading public-domain historical documents in the original

Not a good fit for

Beginners seeking a systematic general history of the United States
Readers with limited English who depend on Chinese translations
Readers expecting analysis of contemporary issues or clear author background

Reading tips

Before reading, learn the basic historical outline of Reconstruction to help locate the text's issues.
Record the author's claims separately from historical facts, marking argumentative statements and factual ones as you read.
If length allows, read through once and then return to outline the author's core arguments and mode of argument.
Read alongside other political pamphlets of the period to appreciate the rhetoric of anonymous writing.

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

Who is the author of this book?

According to the sources, the author is listed as Anonymous, and Project Gutenberg provides no specific identity. The text therefore cannot be interpreted through the author's biography; readers can only approach its claims and background through the content and period classification.

What does "Peril" in the title refer to?

The sources provide only the title and historical classification, not what the peril specifically denotes. Given its classification under late nineteenth-century American history, one may infer that the title points to some national crisis or threat as the author saw it, but the specific content requires reading the original; do not guess from the title alone.

Is this book suitable for beginning history readers?

Not very. It is an anonymous historical document of a political nature, lacking systematic narrative and background, so beginners may find little to anchor it. Read a general work on post-Civil War American history first, then return to such primary texts for a clearer gain.

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About the author

Anonymous Author

Anonymous is a collective designation used in English-language publishing for works whose authorship is unknown or unsigned, rather than the real name of a single author. The 716 titles attributed to this name include the Gospel of John, Psalms, Romans, Luke, Philippians, and 1 Corinthians from the World English Bible, as well as the Gospel of John and Psalms from the King James Version. Such texts are mainly religious classics and ancient folk traditions that were copied, translated, and compiled over long periods, making their original authors difficult to trace; they therefore circulated anonymously. Public information is limited, and neither nationality nor dates of birth and death can be confirmed. The significance of anonymity lies in focusing attention on the works themselves rather than on authorial identity, and in reminding readers of the collective and variable nature of texts in transmission.