Zibeline — Complete

Philippe de Massa (Alexandre-Philippe Régnier, marquis de Massa)Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.7

Word count: 220K words
Chapters: 22

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.Zibeline — Complete by marquis de Philippe MassaAuthor: Massa, Philippe, marquis de, 1831-1911,Language: English, Class: PQ: Language and Literatures: Romance literatures: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Release Date: Oct 30, 2004

Editor's review

Zibeline is a complete novel by the French author Marquis Philippe de Massa, belonging to nineteenth-century French romance literature and made freely available by Project Gutenberg in English translation. The story revolves around a female figure in upper-class society; the tone is light, with the wit characteristic of salon comedy and depiction of social manners, and the book is short and reads smoothly. As a public-domain ebook, its value lies first in being free and easily accessible—readers can open it directly on an electronic device without seeking a print copy; second, it offers a window into nineteenth-century French social customs and gender relations, suitable for comparison with works of the same period. Being an English translation, the language bears the marks of its era, and some expressions require slight adjustment. Overall it suits readers as light reading for French literature enthusiasts, or as supplementary material for understanding popular fiction of the period, rather than as a classic to be studied closely.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in nineteenth-century French social novels and comedies of manners
Readers looking for a public-domain English novel of moderate length that can be finished easily
Literature enthusiasts studying French popular literature and the language of translation
Readers who enjoy salon settings and dialogue-dense narratives

Not a good fit for

Serious readers seeking deep intellectual substance or grand narrative
Beginners with weak English who depend on Chinese translations
Contemporary fiction readers who prefer modern pacing and strong plot momentum

Reading tips

Read the first two chapters first to become familiar with the characters and the social circle, then read through continuously
Pay attention to the wit and irony in the dialogue; excerpt a few passages to appreciate the tone of the era
After finishing, look up the author and the work's background to understand its place in popular literature
If English is difficult, slow down and read paragraph by paragraph; there is no need to finish in one sitting

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 complete story?

According to the information, the book is marked as complete, unlike works published in volumes; the story concludes within this one book, so readers need not worry about being left unfinished midway. It suits readers who want to finish a complete story in one go.

Who was the Marquis de Massa?

The information only identifies the author as Marquis Philippe de Massa (1831–1911), a French writer; further biographical details are not provided here. Readers who wish to learn about his life and full body of work should consult reliable biographical sources separately and should not infer from this book's introduction.

Can I read this book if my English is not good?

This book is an English translation whose language carries nineteenth-century conventions, posing a certain barrier for readers with an average command of English. If your English reading experience is limited, it is advisable to sample the first few pages to judge the difficulty, or to use a dictionary and a parallel translation for support.

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About the author

Philippe de Massa (Alexandre-Philippe Régnier, marquis de Massa) Author · French · 1831–1910

Philippe de Massa (1831–1910) was a French writer, composer and playwright born in Paris. He came from a military background, took part in the Italian War and the Franco-Prussian War, and was awarded the Legion of Honour. His novel Zibeline (1892) won the Prix Juy of the Académie française, and he also wrote numerous comedies, operas and ballet librettos. The library holds five of his works, chiefly different volumes and the complete edition of Zibeline, along with a collection of quotes and images drawn from it. Public information is limited; his writing spans fiction and stage scripts, often dealing with high society and social life in a light, dramatic style. The award and multiple editions of Zibeline reflect his modest influence in late nineteenth-century French popular literature and theatre.