The Collectors

Mather, Frank Jewett, 1868-1953Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.1

Word count: 198K words
Chapters: 20

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 Collectors by Frank Jewett MatherAuthor: Mather, Frank Jewett, 1868-1953,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Aug 4, 2004

Editor's review

The Collectors is a literary work by Frank Jewett Mather, classified under American and Canadian literature and circulated as a public-domain ebook through Project Gutenberg. Mather was himself an art historian and critic, and this background lends the work's portrayal of characters and collecting behavior an observation of taste, judgment, and possessiveness. The book is short and leisurely in narrative, making it a suitable entry point for understanding the theme of "collecting" in early twentieth-century American literature, and also suitable for readers interested in art collecting culture and the psychology of connoisseurship who wish to read further. It is not a systematic collecting guide but rather presents, through literary means, the collector's mentality and the social ecology of collecting circles; while reading, note the narrator's praise and criticism of characters' tastes and the social-identity implications behind collecting behavior.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in American literature and art essays
Those concerned with collecting culture, connoisseurship psychology, and the formation of taste
Readers who want to enter the early twentieth-century cultural context through a short literary work
Literature lovers who enjoy public-domain classics and are willing to read English originals

Not a good fit for

Readers looking for practical collecting authentication and investment guides
Readers who prefer strong plot and fast-paced fiction
Readers who need a Chinese translation and do not wish to read the English original

Reading tips

First learn about the author's background in art history and criticism, then read the work; this makes it easier to grasp the connoisseurship judgments in the narrative.
While reading, note the characters' different attitudes toward "collecting" and compare differences in taste and status relationships.
Read alongside other literary works themed on collecting to form a small thematic reading unit.
After finishing, write a short review distinguishing the collecting psychology presented in the work from the similarities and differences of today's collecting market.

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 a literary work or a collecting guide?

It is a literary work, classified under American and Canadian literature, and is not a practical manual teaching you to authenticate, appraise, or invest in collectibles. The book involves collecting behavior and collector figures, but its focus is on characters, taste, and cultural observation; readers should not expect operational collecting advice.

Do I need to know about the author Mather before reading?

Systematic study is not necessary, but knowing that he had a background in art history and criticism will help. This explains why the work pays much attention to taste, judgment, and possessiveness. A few minutes spent learning his general identity before reading is enough; the focus should still be on the text itself.

How difficult is the English original, and who is it suitable for?

The language is literary English of the early twentieth century, with leisurely sentence structures and vocabulary that is not overly difficult, but it requires some reading stamina. It is suitable for readers who can read English fiction and are willing to read slowly; if you mainly read Chinese, you can look for a reliable translation or first read background material on the author before deciding.

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About the author

Mather, Frank Jewett, 1868-1953 Author · American · 1868–1953

Frank Jewett Mather (1868–1953) was an American art historian and critic who taught for many years at Princeton University and focused on Renaissance art. He combined scholarly research with writing on art for a general audience, attending both to the technique and historical context of early German painters such as Dürer and Holbein and to the cultural phenomenon of art collecting. His works in this entry, The Collectors and an essay on Dürer and Holbein, show a style that starts from specific painters and collecting practices and speaks clearly to ordinary readers. Public information on the details of his life is limited, so no speculation is offered here.