The Last Miracle

Matthew Phipps ShielProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.3

Word count: 418K words
Chapters: 42

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 Last Miracle by M. P. ShielAuthor: Shiel, M. P. (Matthew Phipps), 1865-1947,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Jan 6, 2013

Editor's review

The Last Miracle is a relatively late novel by Matthew Phipps Shiel, an author best known for science fiction and fantastical works such as The Purple Cloud; this book leans more toward speculation on religion, philosophy, and the fate of civilization. The story revolves around an event regarded as a miracle, and Shiel's characteristic grand imagination and ornate, slightly inflammatory prose remain much in evidence. For readers familiar with late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century British popular fiction and fantastical novels, it offers a sample of how the author fused scientific imagination, religious belief, and human desire. It does not aim for rigorous speculative logic but emphasizes atmosphere and the clash of ideas; read it with attention to the narrator's stance and rhetoric rather than to a closed causal chain of plot. Since the public-domain electronic edition has no introduction or notes, readers new to Shiel may need some background on his career to better grasp the interplay of discourse and narrative in the book.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in late nineteenth-century British fantastical and science fiction
Literature enthusiasts studying Shiel's development and seeking to complete their map of his works
Readers who enjoy idea-driven old novels interweaving discourse and narrative

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking hard science fiction settings and rigorous logical speculation
Readers who prefer contemporary pacing and have little patience for long discursive passages
Beginners who need detailed background notes to enter the text

Reading tips

First learn the basic style of Shiel's representative works such as The Purple Cloud; this makes his rhetorical habits easier to grasp in this book.
While reading, distinguish narrative passages from discursive ones and note the ideas the author expresses through his characters.
Consult background material on late nineteenth-century debates between religion and science to understand the multiple meanings of "miracle" in the book.

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 science fiction?

Shiel is often classed among early science fiction and fantastical authors, but this book is more idea-driven and concerned with religious and philosophical speculation; science fiction elements are not central. If you expect technically speculative science fiction, adjust your expectations; if you are interested in fantastical literature and novels of ideas, it will suit you better.

Why does it read as so discursive?

Shiel's writing often interweaves narrative with authorial discourse, and characters frequently deliver long statements of ideas. This is part of his style; treat the discursive passages as clues to the themes rather than as obstacles to the plot.

Do I need to read the author's other works first?

No; the book can be read independently. But knowing Shiel's background as an author known for the fantastical and grand imagination will help readers adapt more quickly to his ornate style and idea-driven narrative, easing initial discomfort.

Comments

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About the author

Matthew Phipps Shiel Author · British · 1865–1947

M. P. Shiel (Matthew Phipps Shiel, 1865–1947) was a British writer born on the Caribbean island of Montserrat, known for his supernatural horror fiction and scientific romances. His best-known work, The Purple Cloud (1901), depicts a disaster sweeping the world; he also wrote Prince Zaleski (1895), The Lord of the Sea and The Last Miracle, and four of his works are held in this collection. His writing often blends bizarre imagination, an atmosphere of mystery and apocalyptic visions, and he is regarded as one of the representatives of British Decadent literature, exerting a lasting influence on later science fiction and horror writing. Public information on the details of his life is limited, so this note focuses on his themes and literary standing.