Dorothy's Double. Volume 1

Henty, G. A. (George Alfred), 1832-1902Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.1

Word count: 263K words
Chapters: 27

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. Dorothy's Double. Volume 1 (of 3) by G. A. Henty. Author: Henty, G. A. (George Alfred), 1832-1902. Language: English. Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature. Release Date: May 14, 2011

Editor's review

This is Volume 1 of the three-volume novel Dorothy's Double by G. A. Henty, a free public-domain eBook from Project Gutenberg. Henty was a prolific Victorian writer known for historical adventure fiction, and this volume continues his narrative tradition, centering on mistaken identity and dual identity while combining suspense with period social detail. As the opening volume of a three-decker, it mainly establishes character relationships and sets up the central conflict; its pace is relatively unhurried, making it suitable for readers willing to enter a long narrative step by step. The electronic edition is the original English text without modern annotation, so some grounding in English literary reading is required. It is better suited as a sample of late nineteenth-century popular fiction narrative method than as a fast-paced read with dense plotting. For readers studying Henty or Victorian popular literature, this volume is an indispensable starting point for reading the complete trilogy.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy Victorian English fiction
Literature enthusiasts studying G. A. Henty's work
Learners who want to read free public-domain English originals
Patient readers comfortable with the leisurely pacing of a three-volume novel

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking a Chinese translation or bilingual edition
Readers who prefer tight plotting and fast-paced narrative
Beginners with weak English reading skills who need annotated support
Readers who want only a single self-contained story and do not wish to follow multiple volumes

Reading tips

Read the first few chapters of Volume 1 to clarify the character relationships before deciding whether to continue with the next two volumes.
Keep an English dictionary or electronic lookup tool at hand to check unfamiliar words and period expressions as you read.
Take notes on clues to the dual identity as you read to better understand how later volumes pay off earlier setup.
For research purposes, read alongside Henty's other historical adventure novels for comparison.

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 or part of a trilogy?

This is Volume 1 of the three-volume Dorothy's Double, and the story does not conclude in this volume. The central conflict and character relationships are established here, and the complete plot requires reading Volumes 2 and 3.

What English level is needed to read this book?

The original is late nineteenth-century English, with period features in syntax and vocabulary, and the electronic edition has no modern annotation. A solid ability to read English literature is recommended, along with a dictionary for unfamiliar words and historical usage.

What are the features of the Project Gutenberg edition?

This is a free public-domain eBook produced according to Project Gutenberg's publication information. It provides the original English text and usually contains no modern introduction or annotation, making it suitable for independent reading or textual research.

Can I read the last two volumes without reading Volume 1?

Not recommended. Volume 1 introduces the characters and sets up the central mystery; skipping it would weaken understanding of the dual-identity clues and character motivations. Reading in order gives a more complete experience.

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About the author

Henty, G. A. (George Alfred), 1832-1902 Author

George Alfred Henty (1832–1902) was a well-known British writer of historical adventure novels for young readers in the nineteenth century. The collection here contains 107 of his works, most of them drawn from major historical events in Europe and the Americas: By Right of Conquest is set during Cortez's conquest of Mexico, Under Wellington's Command takes the Peninsular War as its background, and For the Temple deals with the fall of Jerusalem. He typically placed a young hero at the centre of real historical scenes, weaving military campaigns and political struggles together with personal adventure. The plots are tightly paced and rich in detail, and they reflect a distinctly British outlook and the moral tastes of the Victorian age. His output was considerable, and his books had a lasting influence on later historical adventure fiction. Public information about his family, education and career is limited, so no speculation is offered here.