The Blotting Book

Benson, E. F. (Edward Frederic), 1867-1940Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.2

Word count: 203K words
Chapters: 21

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.The Blotting Book by E. F. BensonAuthor: Benson, E. F. (Edward Frederic), 1867-1940,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Mar 1, 2004

Editor's review

The Blotting Book is a novel by E. F. Benson, part of the Project Gutenberg free ebook series. Benson is known for delicate psychological description and the creation of suspenseful atmosphere; this book revolves around a case, linking clues through the everyday object of the blotting paper and revealing suspicion and secrets in human nature. As a public-domain ebook, it suits readers who want low-cost access to the style of late Victorian to Edwardian British fiction. There is no need to seek the fast-paced pleasure of deduction; instead, note the hints in dialogue and shifts in narrative perspective. As it is an English original and an early electronic text, it is advisable to use it with notes or an introduction. Its presentation of legal and moral dilemmas also provides material for discussing the boundaries of good and evil, making it suitable for book-club reading.

Who it's for

A good fit for

English-language readers who enjoy classic British suspense fiction
Literature enthusiasts who want to study E. F. Benson's narrative technique
Students needing public-domain English texts for reading practice
Organizers of book clubs looking for short discussion material

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer modern fast-paced crime thrillers
Beginners whose English reading ability is not yet sufficient for original novels
Readers expecting detailed historical notes or scholarly introductions

Reading tips

Read through once to grasp the plot, then revisit the foreshadowing planted in key dialogue.
Keep pen and paper to record character relationships and the timeline, making the case easier to follow.
Compare with other Benson novels to observe similarities and differences in his suspense technique.
If reading the electronic edition, enlarge the font and read in sections to reduce eye strain from long screen sessions.

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 a detective novel?

It has suspense and case elements, but focuses more on character psychology and moral dilemmas than on modern fair-play deduction. Readers expecting primarily a puzzle may find the pace slow; those who enjoy atmosphere and character portrayal will find it more satisfying.

How difficult is the English original?

The language belongs to early-twentieth-century British fiction, with longer sentences and more formal diction, but it is not overall very difficult. Readers with CET-4 or above can manage with a dictionary; if you rarely read original novels, try one chapter first before deciding.

What are the features of the Project Gutenberg edition?

This edition is a free public-domain electronic text, easy to obtain and copy, but it usually lacks the notes, introduction, or proofreading notes of a modern publisher. Readers must check the text themselves; for scholarly citation, consult an authoritative print or critical edition.

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About the author

Benson, E. F. (Edward Frederic), 1867-1940 Author

E. F. Benson (full name Edward Frederic Benson, 1867–1940) was a British writer, though public information about his life and nationality available in our records is limited. The collection holds 42 of his works, spanning a wide range of subjects: social comedies such as Queen Lucia and Miss Mapp, satirical sketches such as The Freaks of Mayfair, and novels including Scarlet and Hyssop, The Relentless City, The Angel of Pain and An Autumn Sowing. His writing is marked by witty dialogue and gentle satire, and he excelled at portraying comic figures in provincial towns and upper-class social circles. Light in tone and neatly constructed, his work has a distinctive place in early twentieth-century British popular fiction and is still enjoyed by readers today.