The Boy Grew Older

Heywood Campbell BrounProject Gutenberg · United StatesMar 2023

3.3

Word count: 300K words
Chapters: 30

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 Boy Grew Older by Heywood BrounAuthor: Broun, Heywood, 1888-1939,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: May 8, 2011

Editor's review

This is a novel by the American journalist and writer Heywood Broun, a work within the context of early twentieth-century American literature, now recirculated by Project Gutenberg as a public-domain ebook. The title itself points to the theme of growing up: a boy gradually grows older as time passes, and his personal experiences and changes in his living environment form the main narrative line. Broun is known for the observational eye of a newspaperman, and his writing often carries a gentle attention to everyday human feelings and city life; this work can likewise be read from the perspectives of literary history and the coming-of-age narrative. The English original is generally plain in language and moderate in length, making it a light entry point for approaching early twentieth-century American fiction. As you read, note the subtle shifts in the characters' attitudes and relationships as they grow older, and how the author uses slices of life rather than strong dramatic conflict to move the story. For readers studying Broun's work or the background of American newspaper literature, this book can also serve as supplementary material. The electronic edition is free to obtain and suits reading in fragments during commuting, before bed, and other spare moments.

Who it's for

A good fit for

English readers who want a light way to approach early twentieth-century American fiction
General readers interested in coming-of-age themes and changes in characters' psychology
Students studying Heywood Broun or the background of American newspaper literature
Readers who want free public-domain English books for extensive reading practice

Not a good fit for

Readers who need a Chinese translation and are not used to reading English originals
Genre-fiction fans who prefer strong plots and fast-paced narratives
Scholars expecting systematic literary criticism or a detailed annotated edition

Reading tips

Read the opening chapters first to grasp the narrative pace and character relationships, then decide whether to read straight through or selectively
Read in segments by stage of growing up, noting changes in the protagonist's attitudes and circumstances
Do not stop at unfamiliar expressions; read through the chapter first, then go back to key words and sentences
Use public resources on Broun's life and the early twentieth-century American background to aid 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 the English original, and what English level is needed?

Project Gutenberg provides the English original ebook. The style leans toward early twentieth-century newspaper prose; sentences are not long, but there are occasional old-fashioned expressions. A reading ability around CET-4 is enough to read through; individual unfamiliar words can be looked up in a dictionary without affecting overall understanding.

There is no Chinese translation. Will it be very difficult to read?

The narrative is mainly slices of life and character relationships and does not rely on complex terminology or specialized background, so the English original is moderately easy. If you are in the habit of extensive reading in English, reading the original directly is feasible; if you rarely read long English texts, try the first two chapters before deciding.

Is this book suitable for learning about Heywood Broun?

It can serve as an entry point for learning about Broun's fiction. He came from journalism, and his works often carry observations of everyday life. This book reflects his narrative style, but to fully understand his writing and his column achievements, you should also consult other materials and works.

Comments

Find this book

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

Heywood Campbell Broun Author · American · 1888–1939

Heywood Broun (1888–1939) was an American journalist, columnist and drama critic. Born in Brooklyn and died in Stamford, he wrote columns for the New York Tribune and the New York World, founded the American Newspaper Guild and served as its first president, and was a member of the Algonquin Round Table. His writing ranged from war reporting and current affairs to humorous essays. His representative works include The A. E. F.: With General Pershing and the American Forces and Our Army at the Front, which record his experiences with the American forces; Pieces of Hate And Other Enthusiasms and Seeing Things at Night, which display his sharp and witty essay style; and the novel The Boy Grew Older, which turns to themes of growing up, so his works are often classified under inspirational growth. Public information is limited, and his life is chiefly seen through these works and his newspaper activities.