Unfettered: A Novel

Sutton Elbert GriggsProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.5

Word count: 333K words
Chapters: 34

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.Unfettered: A Novel by Sutton E. GriggsAuthor: Griggs, Sutton E. (Sutton Elbert), 1872-1933,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Feb 11, 2012

Editor's review

Unfettered is a novel by the late nineteenth-century African American writer Sutton E. Griggs, falling under American and Canadian literature. The work treats racial and social issues in novel form and holds value both as literary history and as a reading experience. Griggs lived through a period of dramatic change in American race relations, and his writing often focuses on the tension between individual fate and social structure; this novel can serve as one entry point into the African American literary tradition of the time. As a public-domain ebook, it gives general readers and researchers low-cost access to the original text. When reading, it is advisable to keep the social context of the late nineteenth-century American South and cities in mind, and to pay attention to the social implications in characters' dialogue and the way the narrative unfolds, rather than expecting the pace of a contemporary genre novel. It suits readers willing to read slowly and interested in literary history.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in American literary history and the African American literary tradition
Literary scholars studying nineteenth-century American social issues
Readers who enjoy public-domain classics and are willing to read slowly
Students who want low-cost electronic texts to supplement course reading

Not a good fit for

Readers of genre fiction seeking fast-paced plots and strong entertainment
Readers who only want contemporary bestsellers and have limited patience for historical texts
Beginners who expect detailed annotations and an introduction

Reading tips

First gain a basic understanding of late nineteenth-century American race relations, then enter the text.
Pay attention to characters' dialogue and descriptions of the social environment, and note recurring thematic terms.
Proceed chapter by chapter and write brief summaries to help grasp the narrative thread.
After finishing, consult literary history materials and consider the work's place in its contemporary context.

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 novel suitable for readers with no background in American literature?

It can be read, but some background preparation is needed. It is advisable first to learn the basics of late nineteenth-century American race relations and African American literature before entering the text; if you are completely unfamiliar with the historical context, you may find the plot slow-moving and the social implications hard to grasp.

Why is this public-domain ebook recommended?

It is a public-domain ebook with low access cost, making it easy for general readers and researchers to engage directly with the original text of a late nineteenth-century African American writer. For those who want to understand the course of American literary history, it is a usable introductory sample rather than heavily adapted secondary material.

What should I focus on when reading?

It is advisable to focus on the social implications in characters' dialogue, the narrative pace, and the tension between individual fate and social structure. Do not expect the fast pace of contemporary genre fiction; reading slowly and writing chapter summaries will make it easier to grasp how the author treats racial and social issues.

Comments

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About the author

Sutton Elbert Griggs Author · American · 1872–1933

Sutton E. Griggs (1872–1933) was an African American writer, Baptist minister, and social activist, born in Texas and died in Houston. In his fiction he addressed America's racial problems; his best-known novel, Imperium in Imperio, imagines a secret African American nation within the United States as a way to explore the future of the black race. His other novels, including The Hindered Hand, Overshadowed, and Unfettered, also center on racial oppression and the condition of African Americans, and are marked by strong social critique and moral purpose. He wrote more than thirty books, advocated black self-respect and self-help, and founded the Orion Publishing Company to circulate his own works and African American voices. Four of his works are held in this collection; public information on his life and career is limited, and studies tend to focus on the themes of his fiction and his publishing activities.