A People's Man

Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips), 1866-194Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.2

Word count: 487K words
Chapters: 49

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 People's Man by E. Phillips OppenheimAuthor: Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips), 1866-1946,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Dec 10, 2005

Editor's review

Oppenheim was a major writer of popular fiction in early twentieth-century Britain, and this novel continues in his characteristic vein of suspense and intrigue: a figure seemingly thrust by fate into the spotlight navigates between interest, loyalty, and public opinion. The dialogue is tight and the plot turns frequent, giving the book the readability of popular fiction while reflecting contemporary British concerns with class, politics, and public image. As a public-domain ebook, it is easily accessible and serves as a good entry point for understanding what Edwardian popular literature looked like. If you enjoy fast-paced novels driven by characters maneuvering against one another, this book offers a fairly coherent reading experience for a commute or a short holiday. Note that the narrative rhythm of early English popular fiction differs from that of contemporary genre fiction; once you settle into the setting, the pleasure becomes more apparent.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy Edwardian British popular fiction
Readers interested in suspense, intrigue, and characters maneuvering against one another
Learners who want lightweight English reading practice
Readers new to early twentieth-century British genre literature

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer contemporary fast-paced thrillers with strong twist structures
Readers unaccustomed to the narrative rhythm of early English novels
Readers expecting deep social critique or complex literary experimentation

Reading tips

Read a chapter or two first to get a feel for the language rhythm, then decide whether to read straight through.
Keep pen and paper handy to note character relationships and shifts in allegiance so you can follow the plot.
If reading the original English, use a dictionary to mark frequently occurring archaic expressions.
Best read in short sessions on a commute or before bed, one or two chapters at a time.

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 in the original English, and how difficult is it to read?

This is a public-domain English ebook from Project Gutenberg, written in the style of early twentieth-century British popular fiction. The vocabulary and sentence patterns are somewhat distant from those of contemporary readers, but the narrative is clear overall. Readers with intermediate English can finish it with the help of a dictionary; it is best to start with the shorter chapters.

I haven't read any of the author's other works. Can I start with this one?

Yes. This is a standalone story and does not depend on prior events from the author's other works. If you want to understand Oppenheim's narrative style, you can start with this book and then move on to his other suspense and political works; the reading order does not affect comprehension.

Is this book suitable as English learning material?

It is suitable for extensive reading but not as a textbook for complete beginners. Its dialogue and plot provide context, but the archaic expressions and period background require extra lookup. Read it with a dictionary and background notes, focusing on understanding the plot rather than reading every sentence closely.

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About the author

Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips), 1866-194 Author

E. Phillips Oppenheim (Edward Phillips Oppenheim, 1866–194) was a writer known for mystery and espionage fiction. Public information about him is limited, and the biographical details in our records are incomplete. The existing catalogue shows that he was a prolific author, with 61 of his works held on this site, including The Great Impersonation, The Double Traitor, The Governors, The Lost Ambassador, The Yellow House, and Stolen Idols. These works generally centre on disguise and false identity, political intrigue, detective pursuit, and adventure; their plots are tightly paced and full of suspense, and he was skilled at advancing the narrative through complex relationships among characters. His works are often classified under inspirational growth, reflecting readers' interest in the choices and turning points of fate faced by his characters.