The Hot Swamp

Robert Michael BallantyneProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.8

Word count: 486K words
Chapters: 49

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 Hot Swamp by R. M. BallantyneAuthor: Ballantyne, R. M. (Robert Michael), 1825-1894,Language: English, Class: PZ: Language and Literatures: Juvenile belles lettres, Release Date: Jun 7, 2007

Editor's review

The Hot Swamp is another boys' adventure novel by R. M. Ballantyne, issued free through Project Gutenberg like Philosopher Jack. Ballantyne's work is known for exotic adventures set on desert islands and in jungles, and the title alone signals its adventurous and exploratory character; it will appeal to readers interested in nineteenth-century English boys' literature. The Project Gutenberg edition offers a free electronic text, lowering the cost of obtaining the English original and making text searches and comparative reading easier. The book can serve as extensive reading material in English, helping readers grow familiar with nineteenth-century English expression and narrative pacing; it can also serve as a supplementary text for literary research, allowing observation of Ballantyne's adventure patterns and characterisation. When reading, it is advisable to grasp the main storyline, note how the author builds tension through environmental description, and reflect on the values reflected therein for a fuller reading experience.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Learners with basic English who wish to read classic adventure stories extensively
Readers interested in nineteenth-century British boys' literature
Teachers or researchers needing a free English electronic text
Readers who enjoy exotic adventure settings such as jungles and wilderness

Not a good fit for

Casual readers who only want a Chinese translation
Beginners in English who cannot yet read the original independently
Genre-fiction readers seeking modern fast-paced narrative

Reading tips

Skim the table of contents and chapter titles to grasp the story's framework before reading chapter by chapter.
Use the e-book's search function to track characters' appearances and key events for easy review.
Note how environmental description works with adventure plot to appreciate the narrative pacing.
Read alongside Philosopher Jack to compare different adventure stories by the same author.

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 is the relationship between this book and Philosopher Jack?

Both are boys' adventure novels by R. M. Ballantyne and both are issued free through Project Gutenberg, with similar publication and release information. They are different works by the same author, similar in subject and style but independent in story, and can be read in comparison to understand the author's adventure narrative style.

What level of English is needed to read it?

This is a nineteenth-century English original whose sentence patterns and vocabulary carry period features, and the material gives no difficulty grading. Readers with intermediate or higher English reading ability are advised to try it, using a dictionary or the e-book's lookup function for unfamiliar words and progressing gradually.

Where can I get this book?

According to the material, the book is issued by Project Gutenberg as part of its free e-book project. Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free e-books, and readers can obtain the electronic text through its platform and read it on a computer or e-reader.

Is this book suitable for classroom teaching?

As a free electronic text, the book makes it easy for teachers to distribute, search and excerpt passages, and can be used in extensive English reading or literature elective courses. Its difficulty and suitable grade level, however, must be assessed by teachers according to students' English proficiency; the material gives no specific teaching suitability recommendations.

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About the author

Robert Michael Ballantyne Author · United Kingdom · 1825–1894

Robert Michael Ballantyne (1825–1894) was a Scottish writer of children's literature, born in Edinburgh. At sixteen he went to Canada and worked for the Hudson's Bay Company for six years, an experience that later supplied material for his adventure stories; after returning to Scotland in 1847 he devoted himself to writing and produced more than a hundred adventure novels, of which ninety-seven are held in this collection. His representative works include The Coral Island, The Dog Crusoe and his Master, Black Ivory, The Lighthouse and Martin Rattler, mostly drawing on seafaring, desert-island and frontier adventure, with tight plots and solid detail that combine instruction with appeal for young readers. He was also skilled in watercolour painting. Public information on his early education and private life is limited.