Old English Chronicles

Project GutenbergProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.6

Word count: 219K words
Chapters: 22

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.Old English Chronicles by J. A. GilesAuthor: ,Language: English, Class: DA: History: General and Eastern Hemisphere: Great Britain, Ireland, Central Europe, Release Date: Oct 25, 2011

Editor's review

This book is one of the free eBooks from Project Gutenberg, containing Old English Chronicles compiled by J. A. Giles, a collection of British historical documents dealing with early English chronicle material. As a public-domain electronic text, its value lies first in accessibility: readers can consult original sources and older translations without cost, making it suitable as an introductory sample of historical documents rather than a modern work of historiography. Readers should note that such compilations focus on preserving and presenting texts; their narrative framework and annotation system bear the marks of their compiling era, and their concepts and translated names may not match today's academic conventions. It is better suited to comparative reading, document searching, and experiencing the language of English historical sources than to obtaining systematic historical explanation. For readers who want to understand the chronicle genre and practice reading early English historical texts, this is a lightweight and practical resource; those expecting a coherent narrative or a modern scholarly introduction should pair it with other works.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in early English history and the chronicle genre
History students who need free public-domain sources for comparative reading
Readers who want to practice reading English historical texts and become familiar with older translation conventions
Beginners in research doing document searches or comparing textual editions

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a modern scholarly introduction and systematic historical explanation
Readers who need a coherent narrative and a highly readable popular history
Beginners with little patience for archaic translated names and compiling conventions

Reading tips

Begin by browsing the table of contents and the compiler's notes to clarify the scope and textual conventions, then decide which pieces to read closely.
Choose one or two pieces to read alongside modern translations, noting differences in terminology and syntax in the older translations.
Prepare a table of names of people and places, recording as you read to reduce the burden of repeated checking.
Treat the book as a sample of historical sources rather than a general history; for key events, consult modern research works for background.

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 readers with no background to read directly?

Not really. It is a compilation of chronicle documents, and both its conventions and its language are quite old, so readers with no background can easily get stuck on translated names and context. It is advisable to read an introductory book on English history first, then browse it as a sample of historical sources, or read only the pieces that interest you alongside modern translations.

How does it differ from modern works on English history?

Modern works usually have a clear problematic, an argumentative structure, and scholarly notes, whereas this book focuses on presenting older chronicle texts and older translations, and its compiling conventions bear the marks of their time. It offers sources and textual experience, not systematic explanation, so it is better for comparison and searching than as a substitute for reading a general history.

What should I pay attention to when reading the electronic edition?

Public-domain electronic texts may retain old spellings, translated names, and paragraphing, and their layout is often plain. When reading, it is best to keep a notebook or comparison table to record names of people and places; if using an e-reader, make good use of the search function to locate keywords, but do not expect notes and introductions produced by modern editing.

Comments

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