The Wonder

Beresford, J. D. (John Davys), 1873-1947Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.6

Word count: 346K words
Chapters: 35

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 Wonder by J. D. BeresfordAuthor: Beresford, J. D. (John Davys), 1873-1947,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Nov 7, 2008

Editor's review

The Wonder is an early science fiction novel by the English writer J. D. Beresford. Taking the appearance of a child with extraordinary intelligence as its starting point, it explores the tension between giftedness, growth, and social expectation. The work carries the speculative temper of early twentieth-century British science fiction, with restrained narration and a focus on character psychology; it will appeal to readers interested in the lineage of early science fiction. This electronic edition is provided by Project Gutenberg as a free public-domain ebook, convenient to read on electronic devices. Readers might place it in the context of early twentieth-century British literature and scientific thought, and consider how the author imagines the coexistence of an “alien genius” with the ordinary human world. It is not modern science fiction driven by dense action scenes, but closer to a coming-of-age narrative with social allegory—suited to slow reading and discussion.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in early twentieth-century British science fiction
Readers who enjoy speculative stories about gifted children and coming of age
Learners who want to read public-domain English ebooks for free
Organizers seeking short science fiction material for book club discussion

Not a good fit for

Science fiction readers who prefer fast-paced action and strong plot momentum
Readers who want a Chinese translation and prefer not to read the English original
Beginner readers with little patience for early literary prose styles

Reading tips

Read the whole book first, then revisit key turning points to map how changes in the protagonist’s abilities correspond to social reactions.
Take brief notes on the early twentieth-century British science fiction background, recording similarities and differences between the work and later science fiction motifs.
With book club members, set discussion questions around “is giftedness equal to responsibility,” then read the book a second time.

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 English?

According to the source, the book’s language is English; it is released by Project Gutenberg as a public-domain ebook. Before reading, make sure you are comfortable with the English original, or prepare your own辅助 tools.

What kind of work is The Wonder?

The source classifies it under PR: Language and Literatures: English literature. Given J. D. Beresford’s background, it is generally regarded as early science fiction or a speculative coming-of-age narrative; for specific plot details, refer to the original text.

What are the features of the Project Gutenberg edition?

The source shows this is a free ebook provided by Project Gutenberg, first released on November 7, 2008. It is convenient to read on electronic devices, but it usually does not include the introductions and annotations of modern publishers.

Do I need to know the author before reading this book?

Not necessarily. You can read the main text directly first and then补充 the life and creative background of J. D. Beresford. This reduces preconceptions and helps you appreciate the work’s own narrative rhythm.

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About the author

Beresford, J. D. (John Davys), 1873-1947 Author

J. D. Beresford (John Davys Beresford, 1873–1947) was an English novelist whose biography is sparsely documented, and whose personal details remain little known to general readers. Seven of his works are held in this collection, spanning science fiction, social satire, and supernatural tales. Early works such as The Hampdenshire Wonder and The Wonder centre on precocious children and explore the predicament of exceptional intellects in an ordinary society, with a distinctly speculative bent. Goslings imagines survival after the collapse of social order and is often placed in the tradition of disaster and dystopian fiction. The Jervaise Comedy leans toward social comedy, light in tone yet ironic. He also wrote a critical study of H. G. Wells, indicating his intellectual ties to a leading figure of contemporary science fiction, while The Psychical Researcher's Tale - The Sceptical Poltergeist and similar pieces venture into the supernatural. Overall, his writing combines scientific imagination with social observation in a cool, restrained style.