Father Payne

Benson, Arthur Christopher, 1862-1925Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.3

Word count: 629K words
Chapters: 63

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.Father Payne by Arthur Christopher BensonAuthor: Benson, Arthur Christopher, 1862-1925,Language: English, Class: BD: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion: Speculative Philosophy, General Philosophical works, Release Date: May 1, 2004

Editor's review

Father Payne is a work by the English writer Arthur Christopher Benson and belongs to the category of philosophical and religious reflection. Benson was himself a scholar, essayist, and educator, and his writing tends to carry reflections on life, faith, and morality within an unhurried narrative; this book continues that essayistic, reflective quality. As a free electronic text from Project Gutenberg, it is very easy to obtain and serves as an accessible introduction to English reflective essays of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The value of reading this book lies not in systematic philosophical argument but in following the author's gentle, inward tone and experiencing a mode of moral thinking with a religious concern. A caution: this is an English original with a distinctly period context, and readers will gain more naturally if they treat it as reflective essays rather than a rigorous treatise. It suits reading in sections on a quiet afternoon or before sleep, noting down passages that move you as you go.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in English essays and reflective prose
Those who wish to encounter religious and moral reflection in the English original
Readers who like slow reading and keeping reading notes
General enthusiasts studying the intellectual atmosphere of late nineteenth-century Britain

Not a good fit for

Readers who need systematic philosophical argument or textbook-style guidance
Those not yet proficient in English reading who would prefer a Chinese translation
Readers who prefer strongly plotted, fast-paced works

Reading tips

First read through the contents and opening to grasp the distribution of topics, then decide which chapters to read closely.
Read one or two sections at a time, and afterward write two or three sentences of your own understanding; avoid trying to do too much.
When you meet allusions to religion or period background you do not know, mark them first and look them up together after reading.
Read alongside other English essayists to appreciate what is distinctive in Benson's style.

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 novel or a philosophical essay?

In terms of classification it is placed among speculative and general philosophical works, and it is closer to reflective essays with religious and moral concerns than to plot-driven fiction. Reading should focus on understanding the author's views and tone.

Is the English original difficult to read?

Benson's style is relatively unhurried, but the book was written in the late nineteenth to early twentieth century, and its sentence patterns and vocabulary bear the marks of the period. Readers with a college-level foundation in English who are willing to look up words can attempt it; those seeking a smoother experience might first read some background introductions.

How should I read the electronic edition?

Project Gutenberg provides a plain-text ebook, suitable for reading on an e-reader or tablet. It is advisable to adjust the font and line spacing and use annotation features to record key points for later review.

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About the author

Benson, Arthur Christopher, 1862-1925 Author

Arthur Christopher Benson (1862–1925) was an English writer whose 18 works are held in this collection, commonly classified under inspirational and personal growth. Public information is limited, and details of his life are difficult to verify, yet his writings reveal a clear authorial bent. Essay collections such as Essays, Beside Still Waters, The Thread of Gold and The Silent Isle dwell on inner experience and reflections on life, in a gentle, restrained prose that carries a contemplative and gently exhortatory tone; The Isles of Sunset and The Child of the Dawn use imagination and allegory to express a longing for spiritual peace. Hugh: Memoirs of a Brother and Memoirs of Arthur Hamilton recall departed friends in a sincere biographical manner. His works often draw moral and spiritual reflection from everyday observation, in a calm, inward style suited to readers seeking consolation and self-growth.