William—An Englishman

Project GutenbergProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.0

Word count: 350K words
Chapters: 36

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.William—An Englishman by Cicely HamiltonAuthor: ,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Sep 11, 2016

Editor's review

William—An Englishman is a novel by Cicely Hamilton, released as a public-domain eBook by Project Gutenberg and classified under English literature. The title foregrounds the protagonist's English identity, and the book is usually read in the context of war and civilian experience: an ordinary Englishman is pushed off the track of his familiar life by the events of his time, creating tension between personal experience and grand history. Hamilton's narration is restrained yet sharp, skilled at staging clashes of ideas through concrete scenes rather than direct preaching. For readers interested in early twentieth-century British fiction, war literature, and questions of gender and society, this work offers a text worth close reading. While reading, note changes in the protagonist's sense of identity and how the author conveys positions through dialogue and detail. This is the original English edition, without a modern introduction or notes, so readers should bring their own historical background knowledge.

Who it's for

A good fit for

English-language readers interested in early twentieth-century British fiction and war themes
Literature students studying civilian perspectives on war narrative or social issues
Intermediate and advanced English learners seeking to broaden their reading with public-domain English originals

Not a good fit for

Beginner readers who need a Chinese translation or chapter-by-chapter notes
Readers who prefer light entertainment and avoid war and identity themes

Reading tips

Gain a basic understanding of British society around World War I before starting the text to grasp the characters' situation more quickly
Track changes in the protagonist's view of "English" identity as a thread for understanding the book
Read alongside other war novels told from civilian perspectives to compare narrative angles and emotional restraint

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

Who wrote this book?

The work is attributed to Cicely Hamilton; the Project Gutenberg entry leaves the author field blank, but the title information and English literature classification are consistent. Readers can verify version details further on the Project Gutenberg page.

Why does the title emphasize "an Englishman"?

The title foregrounds national identity, prompting readers to consider how the protagonist's Englishness is redefined by war and external events. While reading, note the pull between personal experience and national narrative; this is a key entry point for understanding the book.

Is the original English edition difficult to read?

It is an early twentieth-century British novel; the language is generally plain, but it involves period background and discussion of ideas and lacks modern notes. Intermediate and advanced English readers can read it comfortably for general understanding; beginners are advised to pair it with background materials or choose an edition with an introduction.

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