At Plattsburg

Allen FrenchProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 405K words
Chapters: 41

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.At Plattsburg by Allen FrenchAuthor: French, Allen, 1870-1946,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Jun 17, 2008

Editor's review

At Plattsburg is a novel by the American writer Allen French, classified under American and Canadian literature. French was active in the early twentieth century, and his works often draw on American history and military life. Plattsburg, a town in upstate New York, was once a site of American military training and militia assembly, and this background gives the novel an authentic period atmosphere. Through its narrative the book presents camp life and human relationships, offering some reference value for understanding the social climate and military culture of the time. As a public-domain eBook from Project Gutenberg, it is freely accessible and suitable as supplementary reading for the study of American literature and history. Readers are advised to understand the characters' circumstances in light of local history and the militia system from the early days of the American republic through the nineteenth century, rather than reading it purely as a plot-driven novel. Because the text is early, its language and narrative pace differ markedly from modern fiction; first-time readers may begin with chapter summaries before going into detail.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers studying American literature and local history, using it as a source text
Readers interested in early American military and militia life
Readers accustomed to public-domain eBooks and tolerant of older narrative pacing

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer fast-paced modern plot-driven fiction and may find the narrative slow
Beginners with limited English reading ability who need annotated support
Readers expecting systematic historical argument rather than literary narrative

Reading tips

Read the preface and chapter titles first to grasp the Plattsburg background, then proceed to the main text
Read alongside materials on the American militia system and nineteenth-century local history
Make brief notes on unfamiliar historical terms rather than interrupting the reading flow

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 suitable as historical research material?

It is essentially a literary work. It can offer vivid material on period atmosphere and everyday detail, but it cannot replace specialized historical scholarship. If used for research, it should be cross-checked against other sources, with attention to the author's narrative stance and fictional elements.

How difficult is the English, and what background is needed?

The text was written early, with long sentences and period wording; university-level English reading ability is recommended. Beginners may first skim chapter summaries and then read closely paragraph by paragraph, looking up unfamiliar military terms as needed without stopping at every one.

Why is reading alongside local history recommended?

Plattsburg holds a specific place in American military history, and the novel's characters and events unfold against this setting. Understanding the local geography, camp system, and social background helps readers distinguish fictional plot from historical backdrop and enriches the reading experience.

Comments

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About the author

Allen French Author · American · 1870–1946

Allen French (1870–1946) was an American historian and novelist. Born in Boston, he graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, and lived for many years in Concord. He devoted himself to the study of the American Revolution, writing works such as The Siege of Boston and The Day of Concord and Lexington, balancing careful historical research with readable narrative. At the same time he wrote several historical novels for children, some illustrated by Andrew Wyeth; adventure and coming-of-age titles such as The Story of Rolf and the Viking's Bow are often grouped under inspirational growth. His writing is known for its solid historical background and brisk plotting, serving both adult readers and young people as a window into history. Public information is limited, and details of his life and the full range of his works remain to be further organized.