Tragic Romances

Sharp, William, 1855-1905Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.9

Word count: 238K words
Chapters: 24

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.Tragic Romances by William SharpAuthor: Sharp, William, 1855-1905,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Dec 30, 2016

Editor's review

William Sharp's Tragic Romances is a collection of short works blending romance and tragedy, classified under English literature and released by Project Gutenberg. Sharp's writing carries the literary taste of the late nineteenth to early twentieth century, emphasizing emotional atmosphere and narrative tension; the stories mostly revolve around loss in love, fate, and choice, and suit readers who enjoy classical romantic narrative and can accept tragic endings. As a public-domain e-book, its value lies in presenting the character of British popular romantic fiction of that era, and it is of reference value to readers studying Sharp's work or similar themes. It should not be judged by the pace of modern genre fiction; its language and plot development bear the marks of its time, and some pieces require patience to enter. Overall, this is a short-story collection for quiet, close reading, suited to browsing out of an interest in literary history rather than to seeking light entertainment.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Literary readers who enjoy classical romantic tragedy and can accept somber endings
Researchers interested in late nineteenth-century English literature or William Sharp's work
English readers wanting to understand old romantic narrative style through public-domain short stories
Literary lovers accustomed to slow reading who are willing to enter a classical narrative pace

Not a good fit for

Casual readers wanting only light, sweet, or happy-ending stories
Learners with weak English who find classical English expression hard to follow

Reading tips

Read one or two short stories at a time, leaving time for the mood to settle and linger.
Start with the shortest piece, and read the rest after getting used to the book's language style.
As you read, note how turns in the characters' emotions echo the arrangement of fate, to better understand the tragic structure.

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 suitable as a light love story?

Not really. The title itself signals "tragic romance," and the stories mostly revolve around loss and fate with a somber tone; it suits readers who can accept tragic endings and are willing to experience a classical narrative atmosphere.

What English level does reading this book require?

The original is in English and carries the literary language style of the late nineteenth to early twentieth century, with sentences and wording distant from modern English. Intermediate or higher English reading ability is recommended, with a dictionary as needed.

Is there a required reading order with the author's other works?

From the materials, this is an independently published short-story collection with no indicated plot connection to other works. Readers can start directly with this book without reading Sharp's other works first.

Comments

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About the author

Sharp, William, 1855-1905 Author

William Sharp (1855–1905) was a British writer of the late nineteenth century, best known for his pen name "Fiona Macleod." The library holds eight of his works, spanning fiction, biography, and retellings of folk tales. He was drawn to Celtic legend and the supernatural, producing Spiritual Tales, The Washer of the Ford, and Tragic Romances, whose ornate, mysterious prose often blends ancient myth with moral allegory; The Laughter of Peterkin retells old tales of the Celtic wonderworld. He also wrote Life of Robert Browning, along with romantic novels such as Pharais and The Mountain Lovers and Green Fire. Public information about his life is limited, but his works reveal a sustained interest in mysticism and Celtic tradition.