Father Stafford

Hope, Anthony, 1863-1933Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 258K words
Chapters: 26

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 Stafford by Anthony HopeAuthor: Hope, Anthony, 1863-1933,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Jan 22, 2005

Editor's review

Father Stafford is a work by Anthony Hope, an author known for his skill in plotting, and this novel likewise follows his approach of focusing on his characters' circumstances and emotional tension. The story centers on the clergyman Father Stafford and involves the pull between his religious identity and worldly feelings, a subject quite representative of English fiction of the period. As a free electronic text from Project Gutenberg, the book is easy to consult at any time and serves well as an introductory text for observing how English fiction of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries handled issues of religion and human nature. The language is generally plain and the narrative thread clear, so the barrier to reading is not high. Note that this is the original English text and an early work, so some social background and religious context may feel unfamiliar to contemporary readers; it can be read as a window onto the ideas of its time rather than judged by modern standards. Overall, it is better suited to extended reading than as a first choice for in-depth study.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in classic English fiction and narratives on religious themes
English-language readers who want to encounter Anthony Hope's work in a shorter form
Students and self-learners who need public-domain English novels as extensive reading material
General readers interested in the literary theme of conflict between faith and worldly life

Not a good fit for

Readers who cannot read English and can only read Chinese
Readers who prefer intense action scenes or modern genre fiction
Researchers seeking detailed notes on religious or literary history

Reading tips

Before reading, note that the story centers on a clergyman and enter it with an eye to conflicts of identity.
Proceed chapter by chapter and keep track of changes in character relationships so as not to miss clues in the English narrative.
When encountering religious vocabulary, it is fine to pass over it at first; grasping the emotional direction of the characters matters more.
After finishing, compare it with other novels on similar themes to appreciate how different authors handle the material.

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 are the main highlights of this book?

The highlight lies in the tension between the clergyman's identity and his personal feelings, and in how the author advances the narrative through his characters' circumstances. It is not long and works well as an introduction to English fiction on this theme.

Can I understand it without background knowledge of religion?

Largely yes. The core of the story is the characters' relationships and choices, and the religious background mainly provides the setting. Unfamiliar terms can be looked up without affecting your grasp of the main plot.

Does this edition include notes or an introduction?

This is the public-domain electronic text released by Project Gutenberg and usually contains no scholarly notes or introduction. For a deeper understanding of the background, consult relevant works of literary history separately.

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About the author

Hope, Anthony, 1863-1933 Author

Anthony Hope (1863–1933) was an English novelist best known for his adventure romances. The library holds 36 of his works, including his代表作 The Prisoner of Zenda and its sequel Rupert of Hentzau, as well as The King's Mirror, Mr. Witt's Widow, Half a Hero, Frivolous Cupid, and The Heart of Princess Osra. His fiction is typically set in the courts of invented Central European states, blending mistaken identity, political intrigue, and romantic entanglement in tightly paced, entertaining plots that combine legend with popular appeal. The Prisoner of Zenda established the classic "substitute king" motif and has exerted a lasting influence on later adventure narratives, frequently adapted for stage and screen. Public information about his life is limited, but these works clearly show his gift for weaving suspense and romance within imaginary historical settings.