Upsidonia

Archibald MarshallProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 321K words
Chapters: 33

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. Upsidonia by Archibald Marshall. Author: Marshall, Archibald, 1866-1934. Language: English. Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature. Release Date: Jun 3, 2012

Editor's review

Upsidonia is a novel by the English writer Archibald Marshall (1866–1934), released free in English electronic form by Project Gutenberg. In the early twentieth century Marshall was known for depicting English gentry family life and rural society, in a mild and gently satirical style, and this work likewise continues his observation of everyday human relations and class differences. For Chinese readers its value lies more at the documentary and linguistic level: on the one hand it can serve as supplementary reading for understanding the landscape of Edwardian English fiction, and on the other its English original is suitable as reading material for a public-domain ebook, for experiencing the rhythm and diction of early twentieth-century English narrative prose. It should be noted that the Gutenberg edition provides only the original text, with no notes or introduction, so it is advisable to read it alongside background material on the author. It does not belong to the type with strong plot and tight pacing, and is better suited to slow reading and reading in fragments rather than to leisure reading in pursuit of suspense or dramatic conflict.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who want to understand early twentieth-century English fiction through public-domain English originals
English majors who need a plain-language, moderately lengthy extensive reading text
Literature enthusiasts interested in English rural life and gentry society
Readers accustomed to ebooks and comfortable with unannotated original texts

Not a good fit for

Beginners who want a Chinese translation or need detailed annotations
Readers of genre fiction who prefer strong plots and fast-paced narrative
Those new to research who need systematic explanation of the author's life and the work's background

Reading tips

First look up Marshall's life and the period in which he wrote, and enter the text only after establishing the historical background.
Read one or two chapters a day; when you meet a passage with unfamiliar cultural background, mark it first and return to it after finishing the chapter.
Keep a notebook recording character relationships and rural social scenes to help understand the satirical touch.
If the language proves difficult, consult reliable English literary history materials alongside the text.

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 Chinese or an English edition?

This is the English electronic edition released by Project Gutenberg. The text is in English, with no Chinese translation, editor's notes, or introduction. Chinese readers need a certain level of English reading ability, or must find supplementary materials on their own.

What kind of publisher is Project Gutenberg?

Project Gutenberg is the earliest project to provide free ebooks. It was founded by Michael Hart in 1971 and mainly collects works that have entered the public domain and offers them free in electronic form. This book is one such public-domain ebook, so the edition information is fairly brief and the emphasis is on the readability of the original text.

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

It is advisable to know at least that Archibald Marshall was active in the early twentieth century and was known for depicting English gentry families and rural life. This helps grasp the work's mild satirical tone and reduces obstacles to understanding caused by differences of period.

Is it suitable as English-learning material?

It can be used as extensive reading material. The language is early twentieth-century English narrative prose; the sentence structures are not very difficult, but the wording carries the flavor of the period. It is better suited to readers with some foundation who wish to engage with literary originals; complete beginners may find it demanding because of the lack of annotations.

Comments

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About the author

Archibald Marshall Author · English · 1866–1934

Archibald Marshall (1866–1934) was a British novelist, journalist and humorist, born Arthur Hammond Marshall in Hampstead, London, and educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. He wrote more than fifty works, known for his delicate portrayal of English country life and once regarded as an heir to the Tolstoyan tradition. His novels mostly centre on gentry families and the routines of country houses, written in a gentle and often humorous tone. Representative works include The Squire's Daughter, Peter Binney, The Graftons, The Hall and the Grange, Abington Abbey, and The Honour of the Clintons from the Chronicles of the Clintons. Nine of his works are held in this collection, commonly classified under inspirational growth. He served as literary editor of the Daily Mail and founded the publishing house Alston Rivers.