The Perfect Tribute

Mary Raymond Shipman AndrewsProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.5

Word count: 34K words
Chapters: 4

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 Perfect Tribute by Mary Raymond Shipman AndrewsAuthor: Andrews, Mary Raymond Shipman, 1860-1936,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Jul 6, 2004

Editor's review

The Perfect Tribute is a short historical novel by Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews, written in the early twentieth century, built around an imaginative narrative of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. The work is brief, focusing not on the battlefield but on the psychological and public atmosphere before and after the speech, using a fictional bystander's perspective to heighten the weight of the address; it carries a clear patriotic and sentimental tone. Its readability lies in concise storytelling and a concentrated setting, making it a suitable introductory read for understanding nineteenth-century American historical memory and public sentiment, and it can also help English learners absorb the feel of early twentieth-century American popular literature. Note that this is historical fiction, not strict history, and the characters and plot contain invented elements; written long ago, its emotional expression may feel distant to contemporary readers. Read it as a story steeped in its era, then compare it with real historical sources to consider the boundary between literary imagination and historical fact.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in the American Civil War and Lincoln's life
Readers who want to learn about American historical memory through a short story
Learners who need brief English reading material for practice
Readers interested in early twentieth-century American popular literature

Not a good fit for

Professional researchers seeking rigorous historical verification and primary sources
Readers who prefer long, complex narratives or modern fiction techniques
Readers averse to a patriotic, sentimental tone

Reading tips

Learn the background of the Gettysburg Address first; the story will read more smoothly.
After reading, compare it with the original address to distinguish historical fact from literary invention.
Read it in one sitting, then revisit key scenes to appreciate how the narrative builds up.
English learners can excerpt sentences describing psychology and atmosphere for imitation writing practice.

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 about real history?

It is a short historical novel set against the Gettysburg Address and Lincoln, containing fictional characters and plot. Readers may treat it as a literary recreation of a historical atmosphere rather than a historical record; for specific words and deeds of real figures, authoritative historical sources should be consulted.

Is it long? How long does it take to finish?

This is a short work of modest length; Chinese readers or those with intermediate English can usually finish it in one or two sittings. It is best not to rush: leave time after reading to compare the original address and historical background for a fuller experience.

Why is the book called The Perfect Tribute?

The title points to the Gettysburg Address as a 'tribute' and to its weight in public memory. The story imagines the address's reception and response, using fictional situations to highlight its power to move people. For specific plot details, refer to the text; readers should not take the title as a definitive judgment on historical fact.

Comments

Find this book

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews Author · American · 1860–1936

Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews (1860–1936) was an American woman writer, born on April 2, 1860, in Mobile, Alabama, and died in 1936 in Syracuse, New York. She made her name with short stories published in magazines, many of them in Scribner's Magazine. Her best-known work, The Perfect Tribute, centers on Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address and sold more than 600,000 copies, making it her most widely circulated book. Beyond historical subjects, she also wrote outdoor stories for boys, often touching on courage, kindness, and the character of ordinary people, as seen in works such as The Courage of the Commonplace and Joy in the Morning. Writing for a popular readership in a plain, accessible style, she held a certain influence in the magazine fiction of her day. Public information about her early education and private life is limited.