The Harris-Ingram Experiment

Bolton, Charles E. (Charles Edward), 1841-1901Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.2

Word count: 464K words
Chapters: 47

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 Harris-Ingram Experiment by Charles E. BoltonAuthor: Bolton, Charles E. (Charles Edward), 1841-1901,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Oct 9, 2005

Editor's review

The Harris-Ingram Experiment is an American novel from the late nineteenth to early twentieth century by Charles E. Bolton, a writer and educator whose work often engaged with social issues. The word "experiment" in the title suggests a social or technical undertaking through which the fates of the characters explore ideals, cooperation, and the possibility of institutional reform. As a public-domain e-book, its value lies in offering a window onto the social imagination of the American Progressive Era: readers can see the era's enthusiasm for organization and reform as well as the tension between idealism and reality in the narrative. This book is not for readers seeking strong plotting; it suits those interested in late nineteenth-century American social thought, utopian experiments, or early narratives of industrial civilization. Read it as a "period text," attending to how the author arranges dialogue and the progress of the experiment, and discern the era's imaginings and doubts about a "better society."

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in late nineteenth-century American social thought
Readers who enjoy novels about social experiments and reform
Students of American literature and Progressive Era texts
Readers willing to read public-domain fiction and accept a slow-paced narrative

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking fast-paced suspense or strong plotting
Readers impatient with historical background and discussion of social issues
Readers expecting contemporary urban romance

Reading tips

Learn about the background of late nineteenth-century American social reform before entering the characters and the experiment.
Treat the "experiment" as a thread, tracing how the participants' goals and disagreements change as you read.
Skip long passages of discussion at first and return to them later so as not to break the narrative rhythm.
After finishing, write a short review recording your judgment of the experiment's success or failure and the characters' choices.

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

What does the "experiment" in the title refer to?

The available information confirms only that the title contains the word "experiment"; its specific reference must be determined from the text. As you read, attend to the characters' discussions and actions around a plan or institution, and judge for yourself whether the "experiment" is a technical attempt, a social reform, or a trial of human relationships. Do not presume an answer apart from the text.

Is this book suitable for students of American literature?

It is suitable as a supplementary text for late nineteenth-century American fiction, especially for observing how social issues enter narrative. It is not among the most classic required readings, but it offers a sample of the era's atmosphere and reform discourse. Read it alongside literary-historical background and distinguish the author's stance from the characters' remarks.

What should I keep in mind when reading a public-domain e-book?

Public-domain e-books are easy to obtain, but the quality of typesetting and proofreading varies. Begin by browsing the table of contents and chapter structure to confirm the text is complete, and look up unfamiliar historical terms as you go. If you intend to quote, check different editions to avoid errors introduced in electronic conversion.

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About the author

Bolton, Charles E. (Charles Edward), 1841-1901 Author · 1841–1901

Charles E. Bolton (1841–1901), whose full name was Charles Edward Bolton, leaves only limited public information about his life and nationality; all that is known for certain is that he is remembered for a single work. The Harris-Ingram Experiment, the only title held in our collection, appears from its title and context to be a social novel of the late nineteenth century, using an "experiment"-style narrative framework to explore questions of social organization and human ideals of the time. Because sources are scarce, scholarly discussion of his writing style and literary influence is limited, and the novel is regarded more as a sample of social imagination in its era. A fuller assessment of this author still awaits the discovery of further archives and documents.