In Hostile Red

Altsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander), 1862-1919Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.5

Word count: 453K words
Chapters: 46

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. In Hostile Red by Joseph A. Altsheler. Author: Altsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander), 1862-1919. Language: English. Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature. Release Date: Oct 14, 2012

Editor's review

In Hostile Red is by the American author Joseph A. Altsheler and belongs to the kind of historical adventure fiction he excelled at. Set against American history, the novel revolves around opposing camps in wartime and the choices individuals make, with brisk plotting and the readability of popular historical fiction. Altsheler's works usually emphasize a young protagonist coming of age amid turbulent events, and this book follows that pattern, suiting readers drawn both to North American history and to adventure stories. As a public-domain eBook from Project Gutenberg, it is in English and of moderate length, suitable for English reading practice or as an introduction to historical fiction. Note that the work carries the narrative perspective and diction of its time; passages involving historical conflict are best read alongside background material and should not be treated as rigorous history.

Who it's for

A good fit for

English-language readers who enjoy historical adventure and brisk plotting
Readers interested in North American history who want a vivid sense of it through fiction
Students or self-learners who want to practice reading with a moderately difficult English original
Readers interested in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American popular literature

Not a good fit for

Readers who demand rigorous history and a narrative fully in line with current historiography
Readers who prefer literary fiction with subtle psychological depth
Beginners whose English is too weak to read long English sentences independently

Reading tips

Learn first about the historical period and conflicts involved, then start the text
Proceed chapter by chapter, briefly retelling each chapter to consolidate understanding
Do not puzzle over old-fashioned expressions or dialect spellings word by word; grasp the sentence meaning first
Read alongside other historical adventure novels by the same author to observe his narrative patterns

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 a serious history book or a novel?

It is a historical novel, not a work of history. The story uses historical conflict as a backdrop and focuses on characters' experiences and adventure, but it does not offer systematic, citable historical scholarship. To learn the history, consult authoritative works separately and treat the novel as supplementary reading that adds atmosphere.

How difficult is the English?

Overall it is the language of popular fiction at the moderately advanced level, with long sentences and the diction of its period. It suits readers with at least a high school reading level in English who are used to reading English originals. If your vocabulary is limited, read a Chinese translation or an annotated edition first to build overall understanding.

Why read the Project Gutenberg edition?

This edition is a free public-domain eBook, easy to obtain and free of copyright concerns, suitable for sampling or classroom support. It usually has no modern introduction or notes, so readers must supply background knowledge themselves. Electronic formatting may vary by device; check before reading that chapters and formatting are complete.

Comments

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About the author

Altsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander), 1862-1919 Author

Joseph A. Altsheler (1862–1919) was an American author known for historical adventure novels, with 33 of his works held in this collection. Because public information is limited, details of his life are difficult to set out, yet his works show that he drew on American history, especially the frontier and the Civil War era. Representative titles include The Riflemen of the Ohio, The Guns of Bull Run, The Forest Runners, The Hunters of the Hills, The Rulers of the Lakes and The Shades of the Wilderness, most set in early Kentucky, the Great Lakes region or the Civil War. His novels are tightly plotted, stress historical atmosphere and youthful adventure, and often appear in series; they had a certain influence on early twentieth-century American historical reading for young people.