The Jack-Knife Man

Butler, Ellis Parker, 1869-1937Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.1

Word count: 263K words
Chapters: 27

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 Jack-Knife Man by Ellis Parker ButlerAuthor: Butler, Ellis Parker, 1869-1937,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Nov 10, 2013

Editor's review

The Jack-Knife Man is another public-domain novel by Ellis Parker Butler, also released by Project Gutenberg and classified under American literature. The "jack-knife" in the title suggests a craft or survival tool, and the story revolves around its characters and everyday hardships, bearing Butler's characteristic gentle humor and observation of human nature. Compared with similar popular novels, this book pays more attention to the realistic sense of its characters' circumstances; the plot advances not through strong conflict but through the accumulation of interest in details and dialogue. As a free eBook, it is suitable as extensive English reading material, helping readers become familiar with early twentieth-century American narrative language. Because it is a public-domain original, there are no translator's notes or introduction, so readers need to bring their own background knowledge. The overall length is moderate, suitable for reading in one go over a weekend or holiday, and also suitable for reading in segments. For readers studying Butler's creative profile, this book can be read alongside Perkins of Portland to observe changes in the author's technique across different subjects.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Self-learners looking for extensive English reading material
Readers interested in American public-domain fiction and popular literature
English readers who enjoy gently humorous, realistic stories
Literature enthusiasts who want to compare different styles of Butler's works

Not a good fit for

Readers hoping for a Chinese translation
Those who prefer strong plots and fast-paced genre fiction
Beginning researchers who need detailed historical background notes

Reading tips

Read chapter by chapter, and summarize the plot in one sentence after each chapter
Mark unfamiliar period expressions first, then look them up together after finishing
Read alongside another work by Butler and compare how characters are portrayed
After finishing, try retelling the main storyline in Chinese to check comprehension

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 similar in style to Perkins of Portland?

Both books belong to Butler's vein of humorous realism, but their subjects and characters differ. The Jack-Knife Man focuses more on characters' circumstances and everyday details, and its humor is gentler. Reading them together lets you appreciate the differences in how the author handles different materials.

On which devices can the eBook be read?

Project Gutenberg provides multiple formats, which can usually be opened on phones, tablets, computers, and e-readers. It is recommended to download the format suited to your device and adjust the font size for comfortable reading.

Do I need to understand American history first to read this book?

Systematic knowledge is not necessary, but knowing that the story is roughly set against early twentieth-century American society will make it easier to understand the characters' living circumstances and speech habits. Specific background questions can be looked up as you read.

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About the author

Butler, Ellis Parker, 1869-1937 Author

Ellis Parker Butler (1869-1937) was an American writer whose life is not widely documented in Chinese-language sources, and public information about him is limited. The library holds 22 of his works, including novels and humorous short stories that often draw on everyday misunderstandings, awkward situations, and the experiences of ordinary people. He is best known for "Pigs is Pigs," a widely read tale about an absurd dispute over railway shipping of guinea pigs, celebrated for its exaggerated bureaucratic logic and light touch. "Philo Gubb, Correspondence-School Detective" features a self-taught amateur detective and gently parodies detective fiction. Other works, such as "The Water Goats, and Other Troubles," "The Great American Pie Company," "The Jack-Knife Man," and "Swatty," likewise show his talent for mild satire of small-town life, family matters, and human foibles. His easy, comic style, skilled dialogue, and plot twists give him a modest place in American popular humor.