Self-Doomed: A Novel

Farjeon, B. L. (Benjamin Leopold), 1833-1903Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.9

Word count: 174K words
Chapters: 18

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.Self-Doomed: A Novel by B. L. FarjeonAuthor: Farjeon, B. L. (Benjamin Leopold), 1833-1903,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Sep 19, 2016

Editor's review

Self-Doomed is a novel by the nineteenth-century British writer B. L. Farjeon, released as a public-domain eBook by Project Gutenberg. Farjeon was known for his skill in weaving plots; this book unfolds around the title motif of self-destruction, with characters driven forward by the pull between fate and choice, carrying the moral tension and dramatic turns common to Victorian fiction. As a public-domain eBook, its value lies first in accessibility: readers can encounter an English original little discussed in Chinese-language circles at no cost, making it a useful sample for understanding nineteenth-century popular narrative technique. While reading, watch how characters' motives lead step by step to an irreversible ending, and how the author sustains suspense through coincidence and foreshadowing. Note that this is the original English text and belongs to an older strand of popular literature, so its language and pacing differ markedly from contemporary fiction; reading with annotations or a guide is recommended. Suitable for readers interested in Victorian fiction, reading English originals, or collecting materials on literary history.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in nineteenth-century British fiction who want to read English originals
Students and enthusiasts studying Victorian popular narrative technique
Self-learners seeking free public-domain eBooks to expand their English reading
Readers who enjoy themes of fate and moral choice and can accept classical narrative pacing

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer fast-paced contemporary genre fiction with strong reversals
Those with weak English reading skills who need a Chinese translation
Rigorous researchers seeking detailed annotations or a scholarly edition

Reading tips

Read the opening chapters first to sort out character relationships, then proceed chapter by chapter to avoid losing the thread.
Keep a simple chart of characters and events, noting as you read to track foreshadowing and turns.
Skip unfamiliar expressions at first and revisit them after finishing a chapter to preserve narrative continuity.
After finishing, look up background on the author and era to compare with the book's moral questions.

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 eBook released by Project Gutenberg, with the main text in English and no Chinese translation. Chinese readers need some English reading ability or should read with a dictionary and supporting tools.

What are the features of the Project Gutenberg edition?

Project Gutenberg offers free public-domain eBooks, released in plain text and other formats for easy download and searching. This edition lacks the detailed annotations or introduction of a commercial publisher, so readers must supply background material themselves.

Do I need to know Victorian background before reading?

Systematic prior study is not necessary, but familiarity with common themes and moral concerns of nineteenth-century British fiction makes it easier to understand characters' choices and the narrative pace. Background knowledge can be filled in gradually while reading.

Comments

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About the author

Farjeon, B. L. (Benjamin Leopold), 1833-1903 Author

Benjamin Leopold Farjeon (1833–1903) was a prolific English novelist of the late nineteenth century. Public information about his life is limited: the available records confirm only his name, year of death, and the twenty-nine works held in the collection, without stating his nationality or detailed experiences. Judging from the surviving titles, he wrote mainly long novels with intricate plots, often touching on mystery and crime, including Aaron the Jew: A Novel, The Mystery of M. Felix, A Secret Inheritance, Devlin the Barber, Toilers of Babylon: A Novel, The House of the White Shadows, and Joshua Marvel. These works generally revolve around secrets, inheritances, and lower-class urban figures, with compact narration and a sombre atmosphere; they found readers in their day and offer material for studying Victorian popular fiction.