Olive: A Novel

Dinah Maria Mulock CraikNov 2015

Rating 3.7

Word count: 176K words
Chapters: 56

Summary

A novel published in 1850. The story follows Olive and those around her, including Mrs. Rothesay and the household at Woodford Cottage, where the old maid Hannah — though carefully kept in ignorance of certain facts — seems at times to bear a secret grudge against the newcomer as an interloper. In one scene she marvels at the change Farnwood has wrought in a young woman who was once so prim and precise but now rides across the country like some wild thing. 'Poor young creature, she is like a bird just let out of a cage,' says Mrs. Rothesay kindly, reflecting on how girls brought up in restraint bloom when given freedom. The excerpt hints at a narrative concerned with character, sympathy, and the shaping power of upbringing.

Editor's review

This book is a scanned facsimile of an early version of Dinah Maria Mulock Craik's novel Olive (based on the 1850 edition), and belongs to the category of reproductions of historical documents. Its reading value lies not primarily in a smooth modern reading experience, but in giving readers direct access to the original printed form of a Victorian novel: including the typography, chapter structure, diction, and possible printing defects of the time. For readers studying nineteenth-century British fiction, narratives of female development, or textual bibliography, such a facsimile offers a textual form close to the historical source. It should be noted that the publisher's note explicitly warns that the scan may contain numerous typographical errors and missing text, and the main text has neither an index nor illustrations; it is therefore better suited as supplementary material for edition comparison or scholarly reference than as a first-choice reading copy for general readers. Those who merely wish to know the story are advised to seek a collated modern edition; those concerned with the material form of old books and textual transmission will find this volume has its own irreplaceable documentary significance.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Literature students and scholars studying Victorian British fiction
Bibliophiles interested in old-book scans and edition differences
Researchers needing to collate texts against early printed editions
Readers with scholarly interest in nineteenth-century narratives of female development

Not a good fit for

General fiction readers seeking a smooth reading experience
Those intolerant of scanning errors and missing text
Readers expecting illustrations, an index, or modern annotations

Reading tips

First consult a modern collated edition for the plot outline, then compare it with this volume to observe textual differences in the early printing.
Mark obvious scanning errors and missing text as you read, as notes for edition comparison.
Combine with sources on nineteenth-century British publishing history to understand the production context of such facsimiles.
If citing for research, always verify page numbers and chapters against the original to avoid perpetuating scanning errors.

版权信息
Chapter 1
CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VII.
Chapter 2
CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER X.
CHAPTER XI.
CHAPTER XII.
CHAPTER XIII.
CHAPTER XIV.
CHAPTER XV.
Chapter 3
CHAPTER XVI.
CHAPTER XVII.
CHAPTER XVIII.
CHAPTER XIX.
CHAPTER XX.
CHAPTER XXI.
CHAPTER XXII.
CHAPTER XXIII.
CHAPTER XXIV.
Chapter 4
CHAPTER XXV.
CHAPTER XXVI.
CHAPTER XXVII.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
CHAPTER XXIX.
CHAPTER XXX.
CHAPTER XXXI.
CHAPTER XXXII.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Chapter 5
CHAPTER XXXV.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
CHAPTER XL.
CHAPTER XLI.
CHAPTER XLII.
Chapter 6
CHAPTER XLIII
CHAPTER XLIV.
CHAPTER XLV.
CHAPTER XLVI.
CHAPTER XLVII.
CHAPTER XLVIII.
CHAPTER XLIX.

FAQ

Is this book a complete and clear text of the novel?

No. The publisher's note explicitly states that it is scanned from the 1850 edition and may contain numerous typographical errors and missing text, with no index and no illustrations. It is not a clean, modern collated reading text, and readers must identify textual problems themselves.

Should general readers choose this edition to read the story?

Not really. Those who merely wish to know the novel's content will find a modern collated or edited reprint smoother. The main value of this book lies in presenting the original form of the early printing, making it suitable for research or comparison rather than for readers seeking reading fluency.

Does the book mention that an error-free scanned copy is available?

The publisher's note mentions that purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book from the publisher, which contains no typographical errors. This note, however, is part of the original publication information, and the specific means of access should be confirmed through the actual publisher's channels.

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Dinah Maria Mulock Craik Author · English · 1826–1887

Dinah Maria Mulock Craik (1826–1887) was a British novelist known for narratives about family life and women's growth. Her best-known work, John Halifax, Gentleman, circulated widely, and she also wrote children's literature. The library also holds her novel Olive A Novel, often categorized as inspirational coming-of-age fiction. Her writing tends to center on the moral development of ordinary characters, family affection, and self-formation, in a warm tone with a strong ethical concern, giving her some influence among Victorian readers. Public information is limited, so details of her life and the full range of her work cannot be described in depth, but the works available show her focus on themes of growth and family.