A Leaf from the Old Forest

Cossar, John D.Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.5

Word count: 153K 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.A Leaf from the Old Forest by John D. CossarAuthor: Cossar, John D.,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Nov 3, 2008

Editor's review

This work is a public-domain English literary text, released free of charge through Project Gutenberg, so readers can obtain the original text at no cost. By category it falls under English language and literature and is suitable as light reading for getting a sense of English literary texts. Its value lies mainly in the availability and textual rawness of a public-domain book: with no modern editorial cuts or changes, readers come directly into contact with earlier English written expression. Since the materials provide no details of plot, genre, or theme, it should not be approached as a novel with a full narrative chain or as a systematic literary history. Suitable reading scenarios are browsing in spare moments, English extensive-reading practice, or using it as a sample for studying the Project Gutenberg e-book ecosystem. Readers should enter the text with open expectations, treating it as a plain English reading experience rather than a classic to be pored over chapter by chapter.

Who it's for

A good fit for

English learners who want free original English texts for extensive reading practice
General readers interested in public-domain e-books and early e-book projects
Readers who need light English material to fill spare reading time

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a complete plot summary or a clear thematic introduction
Readers who need a Chinese translation or bilingual reading
Readers seeking systematic literary-historical knowledge or in-depth criticism

Reading tips

First skim the whole text quickly to judge the style and language difficulty, then decide whether to read closely or extensively.
Don't look up every unfamiliar expression; keep the reading rhythm first and review afterward.
Alternate it with other public-domain English short works to avoid fatigue from a single 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 a Chinese book?

No. The materials show that the book's language is English and that it belongs to the English language and literature category, with the main text in English. Chinese readers need some English reading ability or should use it as English extensive-reading material.

What is Project Gutenberg?

Project Gutenberg is an early provider of free e-books, founded by Michael Hart in 1971 with the idea of keeping e-books and related technologies going. This book is published by that platform and is a freely available public-domain e-book.

Can I read it without an introduction?

Yes, but expectations need adjusting. The materials provide only the author, language, and category, with no plot or theme description. It is advisable to browse the first few pages to judge the style before deciding whether to continue; do not enter expecting a novel.

Comments

Find this book

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Cossar, John D. Author

John D. Cossar is an author about whom very little public information is available in this Chinese book database, which holds only one work under his name, A Leaf from the Old Forest. Beyond the name and this title, no reliable records exist concerning his nationality, dates of birth and death, education, career, or the full scope of his writing, so it is difficult to sketch a complete biography. Judging from the available clue, the title carries a strong natural and nostalgic flavor, suggesting themes of forests, former times, and personal memory, and a tone that may lean toward quiet, lyrical, essay-like prose. Given the limited sources, this impression rests only on the imagery evoked by the title rather than on confirmed textual analysis. Readers interested in the author and the work may consult the book itself to learn more about its style and influence.