In the Mountains

Von Arnim, Elizabeth, 1866-1941Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.7

Word count: 317K words
Chapters: 32

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 the Mountains by Elizabeth Von ArnimAuthor: Von Arnim, Elizabeth, 1866-1941,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Jan 25, 2011

Editor's review

In the Mountains is an English novel by Elizabeth von Arnim, made available as a free eBook by Project Gutenberg. Von Arnim's works often observe human relationships and everyday situations with a delicate touch, and this book is likewise suited to slow reading in a quiet setting. For readers wishing to approach English literature of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, it is a relatively accessible work in both length and language difficulty. Its value lies not in strong plot excitement but in the interplay between narrative tone, characters' states of mind, and the mountain setting. Readers may focus on the dialogue and descriptions of scenery, and observe how the author presents emotional tension in a light, understated manner. As a public-domain eBook, it is convenient to read in segments on a phone or e-reader, and also suitable as supplementary reading for English literature courses. Note that this is the original English text, whose language bears the marks of its period; first-time readers would do well to use notes or an introduction.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Intermediate English learners who want to read novels in the original English
Readers interested in English literature of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries
Literary readers who enjoy a slow pace and emphasis on characters' inner lives
Teachers and students who need a public-domain eBook as classroom supplementary material

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking strong plot and fast-paced stories
Readers with weak English who need a Chinese parallel text to read smoothly
Readers looking only for the experience of contemporary bestsellers

Reading tips

Read one chapter straight through first, mark unfamiliar period expressions, then go back and look them up.
Take separate notes on scenery descriptions and dialogue, and observe how the two set each other off.
Read one or two chapters a day to keep a coherent feel for the language, and do not pause too long over unfamiliar words.
After finishing, summarize the main characters' shifts in mood in three to five sentences to check your understanding.

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 in Chinese or English?

This is the original English work, released as a free eBook by Project Gutenberg. The language carries the expressive habits of the author's era; intermediate and above English readers will find it fairly easy to enter, while beginners may read it with a dictionary or an introduction.

Can I read it without a print copy?

Yes. The book is a public-domain eBook from Project Gutenberg, and the electronic text can be obtained from its website and read on a phone, tablet, or e-reader; it is also easy to search and annotate.

Is it suitable for English classroom use?

It can serve as supplementary reading. It is moderate in length and not too difficult in language, suitable for practicing reading analysis of character and scenery description. Teachers should explain the historical background and language features in advance.

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About the author

Von Arnim, Elizabeth, 1866-1941 Author

Elizabeth von Arnim (1866–1941) was a British-born writer who lived for much of her life in Europe. Drawing frequently on her own experiences, she wrote in a light, humorous style and was skilled at capturing subtle shifts of feeling within domestic life and travel. Her best-known novel, The Enchanted April, portrays several women whose moods are transformed during an Italian holiday, in prose that is bright and engaging; Elizabeth and Her German Garden uses garden life as its thread to display a delight in nature and a female perspective. Her works often centre on women and explore marriage, solitude, and self-discovery, with a gentle style that is nonetheless sharp. Public information is limited, yet her books are still read and regarded as a charming voice in early twentieth-century English women's literature.