Wanda, Vol. 1

Ouida, 1839-1908Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 406K words
Chapters: 41

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.Wanda, Vol. 1 (of 3) by OuidaAuthor: Ouida, 1839-1908,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: May 23, 2016

Editor's review

As the first of Ouida's three-volume novel Wanda, this work reflects the nineteenth-century English romantic novel's attention to aristocratic life, emotional entanglement, and moral dilemmas. Project Gutenberg's electronic edition makes this long out-of-print work readable again: readers can read the original English text on their devices at no cost. Volume one mainly serves to introduce characters and establish situations; its pace is relatively slow and its descriptions detailed, suiting readers who enjoy Victorian narrative style and are willing to enter patiently. Note that this is the original English text, produced in the nineteenth century, with period features in syntax and diction that require some English reading ability. For readers studying Ouida's writing or nineteenth-century popular fiction, this volume is a necessary starting point for understanding later plot developments; general readers who only want a quick summary of the story may be better served by excerpts or a guide.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Literature lovers who enjoy Victorian English novels
Students and scholars studying Ouida and the popular fiction of her time
Ebook readers who want to read public-domain English classics for free
Readers with solid English skills willing to read a long novel slowly

Not a good fit for

Beginners with limited English reading ability who need a Chinese translation
Readers who prefer contemporary fiction with fast pacing and strong plot momentum
Readers who only want a story summary and do not plan to read the original

Reading tips

First read the bibliographic information on the Project Gutenberg page to confirm the volume and edition before starting.
Prepare an electronic dictionary or annotation tool to look up unfamiliar words and period usage as you go.
Proceed chapter by chapter; after each chapter, summarize the character relationships and events in one or two sentences.
If the pace feels slow, read an introduction or criticism on Ouida's writing background first, then return to the text.

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 in Chinese or English?

This is the original English ebook released by Project Gutenberg; the text is in English with no Chinese translation. It suits readers with some English reading ability, who can use a dictionary or annotations while reading.

Why is it recommended to read volume one first?

Wanda has three volumes. Volume one introduces the main characters, sets the background, and establishes the conflicts, and is the foundation for understanding the plots of the later two volumes. Skipping volume one and reading later volumes directly can make character relationships and the sequence of events confusing.

What are the features of the Project Gutenberg edition?

Project Gutenberg is one of the earliest platforms providing free ebooks, and its editions are usually based on public-domain texts and can be downloaded and read for free. This book is a public-domain English literary work released by that platform, suitable for use on a computer or e-reader.

What if I can't get through the original text?

You can first look up background introductions to Ouida and Wanda to understand the story's framework before reading; you can also slow down and read only a short section each day. If it still feels difficult, the book is temporarily beyond your reading level, and there is no need to force it.

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About the author

Ouida, 1839-1908 Author

Ouida (1839–1908) was the pen name of the British novelist Maria Louise Ramé, though public information about the details of her life is limited. She was a prolific writer, and this library holds twenty-four of her works, including novels and short-story collections. Her representative works include A Dog of Flanders, The Nürnberg Stove, Under Two Flags, and Bébée. Her stories often center on animals, children, and the poor, with sentimental and dramatic plots and ornate, romantic prose. She was popular in the Victorian era, and A Dog of Flanders in particular circulated widely and has been adapted many times. On the whole, she is known for accessible and emotionally charged storytelling, and she left a mark on children's literature and popular fiction.