Immortal Memories

Shorter, Clement King, 1857-1926Project Gutenberg · United StatesMar 2023

2.8

Word count: 331K words
Chapters: 34

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. Immortal Memories by Clement King Shorter. Author: Shorter, Clement King, 1857-1926. Language: English. Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature. Release Date: Jun 19, 2007

Editor's review

Immortal Memories is a collection of essays and reminiscences by the British editor and critic Clement King Shorter, a public-domain work of English literature. Active in London literary circles from the late nineteenth to the early twentieth century, Shorter was a widely connected figure, and his writing carries the typical air of the literary essay: unhurried in tone, precise in observation, and skilled at drawing the weight of memory from personal anecdotes and everyday scenes. The book's value lies not in systematic argument but in preserving, from a participant's perspective, the literary atmosphere and personal profiles of the age, making it a useful reference for the study of late Victorian and Edwardian English literary life. It is best read slowly, as a collection of literary sketches to dip into rather than a continuous narrative. General readers may find some names and periodicals unfamiliar and are advised to consult notes or background material. Suitable for enthusiasts of literary history, readers of essays, and anyone interested in British literary circles.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in late Victorian British literary circles
Readers who enjoy literary essays and memoirs
English majors seeking supplementary background in literary history
Readers who prefer short pieces and leisurely reading

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a continuous plot or novel-like narrative
Beginners whose English is not yet up to reading essays in the original
Readers seeking a systematic literary-history textbook

Reading tips

Read one or two pieces at a time, pausing to savor the personal details
Keep track of names and periodicals as they appear to build up the background
Set aside quiet, uninterrupted time rather than reading in fragments
Read alongside literary histories of the same period

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 memoir?

It is not a novel but a collection of essays and reminiscences. It centers on people and literary scenes the author knew firsthand, in a prose style and without fictional plot. Approach it as essays rather than expecting a story to unfold.

Can I read it without knowing British literary history?

Yes, but with reduced understanding. The book involves many late-nineteenth-century writers, editors, and periodicals, and without background the names can feel dense. It is advisable to read an introductory article first, or look up key figures as you go.

Is it suitable as English-learning material?

It can serve as extensive reading for intermediate to advanced learners. The sentences have an essayistic style, with elegant but not obscure vocabulary. Beginners may struggle; it is better attempted after some experience with original texts, with a dictionary at hand.

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About the author

Shorter, Clement King, 1857-1926 Author

Clement King Shorter (1857–1926) was a British author and literary editor. Public information about him in China is limited, and many details of his life remain unclear. Five of his works are held here, falling into two groups: writers' biographies and studies of Victorian literature. His biography The Life of George Borrow and George Borrow and His Circle center on Borrow's life and his circle of acquaintances, while Charlotte Brontë and Her Circle focuses on Charlotte Brontë's life and the people around her. He also wrote Victorian Literature: Sixty Years of Books and Bookmen, a survey of sixty years of Victorian books and bookmen, and Immortal Memories, a collection of reminiscences. His writing is distinguished by careful use of historical sources and attention to personal circles, in a plain style that favors literary anecdote and biographical narrative; the library classifies his work under inspirational growth.