The Long Chance

Kyne, Peter B. (Peter Bernard), 1880-1957Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 557K words
Chapters: 56

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 Long Chance by Peter B. KyneAuthor: Kyne, Peter B. (Peter Bernard), 1880-1957,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Jul 1, 2004

Editor's review

The Long Chance is an American novel by Peter B. Kyne with a distinct Western and adventure flavor. Kyne excels at unfolding his characters' fates and pivotal choices within popular narrative, and the title itself suggests "staking everything on one throw," with the story revolving around opportunity, risk, and human relationships in a tightly paced, highly readable manner. As a free eBook from Project Gutenberg, it serves as a sample for understanding early twentieth-century American popular fiction and offers English learners low-cost access to native texts. Readers may note how the author advances the plot through dialogue and action, and how the theme of the "long chance" echoes repeatedly in the characters' choices. For readers who enjoy traditional adventure narratives and want to feel the flavor of early American popular literature, this is a light and enjoyable choice.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy popular American Western and adventure fiction
Fans who want a light English original to understand early twentieth-century American popular literature
English learners who need free public-domain eBooks for extensive reading practice
Readers interested in themes of opportunity and risk who enjoy plot-driven stories

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer nuanced psychological portrayal and slow-paced literary narrative
Readers with no interest in the flavor and era of early popular fiction
Readers expecting rigorous historical accuracy or documentary content

Reading tips

Read the first two chapters to grasp the character relationships and conflicts before deciding on your reading pace
Note the recurring appearance of the "long chance" in the plot and record the characters' key decisions
Use the eBook's word-lookup function to assist reading, and keep chapters continuous without interruption
After reading, compare with contemporary American popular fiction to observe common patterns in adventure narrative

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 suitable for English beginners to read directly?

The work is popular fiction with generally plain language, but it involves early American English expressions and period vocabulary that beginners may find difficult. It is recommended to attempt it after reaching an intermediate reading level, or to use the eBook's word-lookup function for assistance and maintain a steady pace of fixed chapters each day.

What does the title "The Long Chance" mean in the book?

The title suggests "staking everything on one throw" or a "rare opportunity," echoing the characters' choices between risk and opportunity. As you read, note how this theme echoes repeatedly through the plot and the characters' actions, thereby understanding the author's popularized expression of opportunity and its cost.

What is the reading experience like as a public-domain eBook?

Published by Project Gutenberg, this book is free and easy to search, suitable for extensive reading on electronic devices. However, the eBook formatting may differ from the print edition; it is advisable to use software that supports word lookup and bookmarks, and to check chapter divisions for a smoother reading experience.

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About the author

Kyne, Peter B. (Peter Bernard), 1880-1957 Author

Peter B. Kyne (1880–1957) was an American author known for his novels and short stories. His work ranged widely, from Western adventures and gold-rush tales to business-themed inspirational fiction and nautical comedy. His best-known book, The Three Godfathers, tells a story of redemption and sacrifice in the desert and has been adapted for the screen several times; The Go-Getter offers a concise portrait of a salesman's enterprising spirit and has long been used in business circles as motivational reading. Cappy Ricks and Captain Scraggs employ a humorous tone to depict shipping and commercial rivalries, showing his skill with dialogue and narrative pacing. Ten of his works are held in this collection, spanning Western, business, and sea-adventure genres. Public information on his life and education is limited, so no speculation is offered here.