Gulmore, the Boss

Harris, Frank, 1856-1931Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.1

Word count: 106K words
Chapters: 11

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.Gulmore, the Boss by Frank HarrisAuthor: Harris, Frank, 1856-1931,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Oct 12, 2007

Editor's review

This work by Frank Harris is short but carries the sharpness and worldliness characteristic of late nineteenth-century English literature. Harris is known for his biographies and autobiography, and his characters often possess strong self-awareness and moral ambiguity; this novel continues in that vein, with a protagonist maneuvering between power and desire, a brisk narrative pace, and witty dialogue. As a public-domain text, its value lies not only in its reference point within literary history but in letting readers see how writers of that era handled the theme of the "ambitious schemer." Read it as a small window onto the social climate and the writing of human nature from the late Victorian to the Edwardian era. It is suited to being read in one sitting during a quiet stretch, then revisiting key scenes to appreciate the author's cool handling of his characters' motives.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in late nineteenth-century English literature
Readers who enjoy short narratives and character portrayal
Literature enthusiasts studying Harris's works or public-domain texts
Self-learners who want a light introduction to classic English fiction

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer contemporary fast-paced suspense or heavily plotted fiction
Beginners who still find reading English originals difficult and need detailed annotations

Reading tips

Read through once to grasp the plot, then mark shifts in power relations within the dialogue.
When encountering unfamiliar expressions, infer from context rather than looking up every word, to keep reading fluid.
After finishing, look up Harris's life and the historical background to better understand the work's social context.
Read alongside similar characters in works by contemporary authors to compare different approaches.

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 for English beginners to read directly?

Not really for absolute beginners. The language carries late nineteenth-century English usage, and sentence structures and vocabulary pose a certain threshold for beginners. Readers with intermediate or higher English reading ability are advised, or first read a Chinese translation to grasp the plot before attempting the original.

Why does the recommendation emphasize public-domain text?

Because the book comes from Project Gutenberg and is a freely accessible public-domain eBook. This means readers can read it without payment, and it is convenient for study, research, and non-commercial citation; however, the source and attribution information should still be respected.

Do I need to know about the author Harris before reading?

Not necessarily. You can read the work first and learn about the author afterward. Harris is known for biography and autobiography; understanding his style will deepen your appreciation of this novel's portrayal of ambition and morality, but it does not affect a first reading.

Comments

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About the author

Harris, Frank, 1856-1931 Author

Frank Harris (1856-1931) was an English-language author whose biographical details remain limited in publicly available sources; accounts of his nationality and early life vary, so no firm claim is made here. Eleven of his works are held in this collection, mainly biographies and fiction. He is best known for Oscar Wilde, His Life and Confessions (in two volumes), written from personal acquaintance and observation. Subjective and dramatic in tone, it is one of the more controversial early sources on Wilde. The Man Shakespeare and His Tragic Life Story follows a similar biographical approach, inferring character and experience from the works. His fiction, including Elder Conklin and Other Stories, Gulmore, the Boss, and The Sheriff and His Partner, is often set in the American West or in local communities, with rugged characters, tight plots, and direct language that make for readable popular narrative. Overall, Harris's writing foregrounds personality and private experience, with strong views that frequently provoked controversy.