Are You a Bromide?

Burgess, Gelett, 1866-1951Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.7

Word count: 37K words
Chapters: 4

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.Are You a Bromide? by Gelett BurgessAuthor: Burgess, Gelett, 1866-1951,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Jan 1, 2004

Editor's review

This is a satirical essay by Gelett Burgess built around the notion of the "Bromide"—in the author's usage, the stale, conventional, unoriginal person and mode of expression. In a playful, witty style, the book dissects the many manifestations of mediocre taste in social life and literature, carrying the humor and critical edge of early twentieth-century American letters. Its value lies not in systematic theory but in holding up a mirror to mediocrity, inviting readers to reflect, with a wry smile, on the inertia of their own expression and taste. Short and full of verbal wit, it works well as light reading in English essays and as casual browsing for those interested in satire and questions of style. Because it dates from an earlier era, some allusions and usages bear the marks of their time; annotations or background material can help.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy English satirical essays and want a light, short read
Those interested in questions of style and cliché
English learners seeking light English reading to sharpen their feel for the language

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting systematic linguistic theory or academic scholarship
Readers who prefer plot-driven, fully developed novels

Reading tips

Read the opening definition of the "Bromide" first to grasp the core concept before continuing
Mark period allusions as you go and look them up together afterward
Treat it as a short essay collection for bedtime or commutes, reading it in installments

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

What does "Bromide" mean in this book?

In Burgess's usage, a Bromide is a stale, mediocre, unoriginal person or expression—roughly a "purveyor of platitudes." The author satirizes such people and their verbal habits; the word has nothing to do with the chemical bromide.

Is this book suitable for English beginners?

Not for complete beginners. The original is an early twentieth-century English essay whose syntax and vocabulary bear the marks of its time; intermediate reading ability or a dictionary and annotations are recommended.

Is it long? How long does it take to read?

It is a short satirical essay of modest length; a single pass usually takes an hour or two, and it can be read slowly in several sittings if you want to dig into the allusions and style.

Comments

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About the author

Burgess, Gelett, 1866-1951 Author

Gelett Burgess (1866–1951) was an American writer, illustrator, and humorous poet, best known for his satirical children's literature on manners and his wordplay. His representative works, Goops and How to Be Them and More Goops and How Not to Be Them, depict children's rude behavior through comic "Goop" figures, conveying etiquette in a teasing manner that delighted readers. He also compiled Burgess Unabridged: A new dictionary of words you have always needed, collecting invented words and displaying his linguistic keenness and playfulness; short verses such as The Purple Cow! likewise reflect his light, witty style. The library holds eight of his works, including War the Creator, The Rubaiyat of Omar Cayenne, and Are You a Bromide?. Public information is limited, but his writing centers on childlike humor, satirical etiquette, and linguistic experiment, giving him a distinctive place in popular humorous literature.