Underground Man

Tarde, Gabriel de, 1843-1904Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.5

Word count: 156K words
Chapters: 16

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.Underground Man by Gabriel de TardeAuthor: Tarde, Gabriel de, 1843-1904,Language: English, Class: HX: Social sciences: Socialism, Communism, Anarchism, Release Date: Aug 27, 2010

Editor's review

Gabriel de Tarde was an important figure in French sociology and criminology, and this book reflects his sustained attention to crowds, imitation, and the mechanisms of social behavior. The English translation is freely released by Project Gutenberg; it is short and written in the argumentative style of late nineteenth-century social theory. Its value lies not in providing a systematic sociology textbook but in letting readers see how Tarde uses the image of the "underground man" to discuss the relationship between social margins, deviance, and order, which can be read in comparison with his theory of imitation. It is suitable as supplementary material for the history of sociological thought, early criminological literature, or research on English translations of French social science works. When reading, it is advisable to first understand the debate between Tarde and Durkheim over approaches to social explanation, then return to the text, paying attention to its rhetoric and argumentation rather than expecting complete data or cases. The free electronic edition facilitates keyword searches and is also suitable for classroom excerpt discussion.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Sociology or criminology students who want to supplement reading of late nineteenth-century French social theory classics.
Readers interested in Tarde's theory of imitation who wish to understand his writing on marginal themes.
Teachers needing free English academic texts for course excerpts or discussion.
Readers studying early social science English translations and public-domain ebooks.

Not a good fit for

Beginner readers expecting systematic textbooks or a complete criminological theoretical framework.
Social science readers who prefer contemporary empirical research, data, and case analysis.
General readers who only want light novels or popular social commentary.

Reading tips

First read a concise introduction to Tarde's theory of imitation, then enter the book to grasp the conceptual background.
Use keyword searches for "imitation," "crowd," "crime," etc., and mark passages that echo Tarde's other works.
If used for class, excerpt core chapters and discuss them in comparison with relevant arguments by Durkheim.
After reading, write a short note distinguishing the era's rhetoric in the text from analytical perspectives that remain useful.

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 novel or a sociological work?

From Project Gutenberg's classification information, it is categorized under social sciences, specifically socialism, communism, and anarchism, and is Tarde's social theory writing rather than fiction. It should be treated as social science literature, with attention to its argumentation and historical context.

Can I read it without a sociology background?

You can read it, but it will be challenging. The text has the English translation style of late nineteenth-century French social science discourse, with high conceptual density. It is advisable to first understand Tarde's basic views on imitation and social behavior, then read this book for smoother comprehension.

What are the features of this edition?

This is a free English electronic edition released by Project Gutenberg, convenient for searching, copying, and classroom excerpting. It does not provide a modern scholarly introduction or detailed annotations; readers need to supplement background materials themselves, making it suitable for readers with some preparation.

Is it suitable for writing academic papers?

It can be used as supplementary material for intellectual history or citation of original texts, but should not be the sole basis. It is advisable to use it in conjunction with Tarde's other works, relevant research literature, and reliable translations, and to verify original page numbers and edition information.

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About the author

Tarde, Gabriel de, 1843-1904 Author · French · 1843–1904

Gabriel de Tarde (1843–1904) was a French sociologist and criminologist best known for his theory of imitation. His research spanned both sociology and criminology, focusing on how social behavior spreads through imitation among individuals, and on that basis he explained the diffusion of collective fashions, the formation of public opinion, and the spread of criminal phenomena. The theory of imitation is his most representative scholarly contribution and has earned him a place in the history of sociology. The library holds one work by him, titled Underground Man. Public information on the subject matter and writing style of this work is limited, so it cannot be discussed in detail here. Overall, Tarde's ideas remain instructive for later sociological and criminological research, and his concept of imitation is often invoked in discussions of social learning and cultural transmission.