New Books on Project Gutenberg December 2020

[ColleenMc]

Just some of the recently listed books that caught my eye and I thought might be interesting for anyone looking for a new project.
Reminder: these are just idiosyncratic lists of books that appealed to me -- there have been lots more books released in recent weeks and I encourage everyone to look under "Latest" on Project Gutenberg to see what might grab you that didn't grab me.

Also, there has been a huge number of SF works released lately and I decided to do them as a separate list coming soon....

PG New Releases December 2020



Arabia: The Cradle of Islam - S.M. Zwemer
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63928

History and geography of the Arabian peninsula, told by a missionary who spent time there.


Christian Schools and Scholars - Augusta Theodosia Drane
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63929

Subtitled "or, Sketches of Education from the Christian Era to the Council of Trent"
Appears to be a very thorough and readable, if specialized, work of history.


The Storm of London: A Social Rhapsody - Fernande Blaze de Bury IN PROGRESS! Link: viewtopic.php?f=28&t=85089
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63939

This one looks like fun! A satire of what happens in London society when all clothing suddenly disappears one day.


Mostly About Nibble the Bunny - John Breck
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63954

No John Breck books are in the LV catalog yet. Judging from the list of titles at the beginning of this book, he looks similar to Thornton Wilder with a cast of personified talking animals having adventures.

Nibble Rabbit Makes More Friends - John Breck IN PROGRESS! Link: viewtopic.php?f=28&t=85076
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64078

A second John Breck Nibble book, both would make good short solo projects or group projects that would probably go quickly!

The Sins of Silvertip the Fox - John Breck
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64162

Another John Breck book, with Silvertip the Fox taking the main role (Nibble the Bunny guest stars).



The Salem Belle: A Tale of 1692 - Ebenezer Wheelwright
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63957

Historical novel in which the heroine is accused, tried, and convicted of witchcraft on the testimony of a spurned suitor, and has to be rescued by her fiance and her brother. Hawthorne reportedly found it an inspiration for his The Scarlet Letter.


The Harim and the Purdah: Studies of Oriental Women - Elizabeth Cooper
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63959

Cooper was a well-traveled Western woman who wrote a number of non-fiction books and some fiction as well about the lives of women around the world. This one focuses on the lives of women in India, the near East, and southeast Asia.


Some Immigrant Neighbors - John Robertson Henry
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63968

A brief overview of the lives and origins of various immigrant groups in the early 20th century, written from the viewpoint of a missionary who works with them. The book was intended as a study guide for church groups.


The History and Poetry of Finger-Rings - Charles Edwards
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63969

Non-fiction work looking at the meaning and symbolism of various types of finger-ring jewelry through history and in different cultures.


A Letter on the Abolition of the Slave Trade - William Wilberforce
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63974

From the title this sounds like it would be a pamphlet but it's not -- Wilberforce was very active in the slavery abolition movement in the late 18th and early 19th century in Britian and this is his magnum opus, summing up his arguments against slavery. It's a historically significant work and definitely should be in the Librivox collection at some point.


1970: A Vision of the Coming Age - John Collins
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63980

Published in 1870, this is a book-length poem describing the author's vision of life a century in the future. More information in this entry about the work in the Public Doman Review: https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/1970-a-vision-of-the-coming-age-1870 .


Katharine von Bora: Dr. Martin Luther's Wife - Armin Stein IN PROGRESS! Link: viewtopic.php?f=28&t=84982
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63985

An attempt to tell the story of Mrs. Martin Luther, and, as the author says, to imagine the domestic life of the Protestant reformer. It's presented as a biography but it is more of a fictionalized one as it contains imagined conversations and thoughts of the main characters, which makes it perhaps less historically accurate, but more readable and entertaining.


The Art of Conversation: Twelve Golden Rules - Josephine Turck Baker IN PROGRESS! Link: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=84819
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63995

A short work that could be a lot of fun as each rule is illustrated by a dialog between a man and a woman, so would be interesting to record as a duet.


Rogers' Directory of Norwich and Neighbourhood - Edmund Dawson Rogers
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64006

For anyone looking for something to read for an Insomnia Collection...


Life at the Zoo: Notes and Traditions of the Regent's Park Zoo - C.J. Cornish
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64029

This book looks quite fascinating -- a behind-the-scenes look at the operations of a Victorian-era zoo. The chapters are short and somewhat stand alone so that individual chapters could also be good for short non-fiction collections.


Dogtown - Mabel Osgood Wright
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64041

A children's chapter book about the life of various dogs of a household, looks amusing. Subtitle of book is: "BEING SOME CHAPTERS FROM THE ANNALS OF THE WADDLES FAMILY, SET DOWN IN THE LANGUAGE OF HOUSEPEOPLE"


G.F. Watts - G.K. Chesterton
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64074

Biography of 19th century British painter and sculptor G.F. Watts, mostly notable because the author is Chesterton.


Human Work - Charlotte Perkins Gilman
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64098

"Human Work represents the first ground breaking analysis on the equal importance of work in the lives of men and women. Noted feminist Charlotte Perkins Gilman maintains the notion that it was 'sexuo-economic oppression of women' and not women's biology that kept women from achieving in all areas of work. Accusing men of appropriating certain work as 'men's work' and masking the process as a biological locus rather than an exercise in power relations, Gilman asserts that men created an economic dependence that has prevented women from success in the workplace." (NOTE: This description is from a present-day catalog listing for a reprint of the book, DO NOT use it verbatim for a Librivox recording - I only quote it to give an idea of the contents of the book)


At the Sign of the Fox - Mabel Osgood Wright
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64110

A strong young woman supports her family after her father "falls into evil ways".


House and Home Papers - Harriet Beecher Stowe (writing as Christopher Crowfield)
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64120

A collection of columns written by Stowe under a male pen-name and persona - could do as a whole volume or use chapters for short nonfiction collections.


The Cambrian Tourist, or, Post-Chaise Companion through Wales (1834) by Anonymous
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64132

A very early tourist guidebook for visitors to Wales - this is the 8th edition from 1834, there's an earlier edition also digitized at PG.
NOTE: you will need to be comfortable with pronouncing Welsh terms (or willing to learn!)


Joe Leslie's Wife or A Skeleton in the Closet - Alexander Robertson M.D.
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64125

I don't know anything about this book or author but the title is irresistible! Early 20th century detective story from a glance at the table of contents.


The Psychology of Sleep - Bolton Hall
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64138

More of a self-help/advice book than a serious academic tome -- very short chapters.


Experimental Investigation of Spirit Manifestations - Robert Hare
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64160

An early attempt at using scientific experiments to prove existence of "spirit manifestations". Written in 1855, it predates and possibly influenced the late 19th century and early 20th century interest in spiritualism.


On Board the "Rocket" - Robert C. Adams
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64171

A sailor's memoir published in the 1870s about sailing on clipper ships in the 1850s.


Tom Newcombe, or the Boy of Bad Habits - Harry Castlemon
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64169

Castlemon appears to be a prolific author of "boys adventure" novels in the 19th century, with 50 books in the PG catalog, but none yet recorded for Librivox. Tom's bad habits don't seem THAT terrible:

"Tom was about fourteen years of age, as smart as any boy in the village, and might have been of some use in the world, had it not been for his numerous bad habits, which kept him in constant trouble, and were the sole cause of all his unhappiness. One of these bad habits was carelessness. He thought it was too much trouble to carry out the motto he had so often heard—“A place for every thing and every thing in its place”—and the consequence was, he was not unfrequently compelled to waste half the day in searching for some article he happened to want. His cap, especially, was the source of a great deal of annoyance and vexation to him. For example, when he came in to his meals, he would take off his cap on entering the house, and throw it somewhere, not caring where it landed; and as soon as he was ready to go out of doors again, his first question—spoken in a slow, drawling tone, as if he were almost ready to drop down with fatigue—would be:

“Now, mother, where’s my cap?”"

Frankly, sounds like Tom may have ADHD....


What I Saw in Berlin And Other European Capitals During Wartime by "Piermarini"
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64166

Collection of newspaper columns published in 1915, purporting to be eyewitness accounts of Berlin, other German cities, and other European locations either neutral or on the German side of the war.

[DACSoft]

(Shameless self-promotion!)

And here's a couple more, produced by your's truly for PG with DP.

Brother Jonathon - Hezekiah Butterworth (1839-1905)
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64126

Historical fiction

A fictional story, based on the historical facts of the life and times of Jonathan Trumbull (1710–1785), Governor of the colony, then state, of Connecticut (in which the PM/PPer is a life-long resident).

"... Washington's 'Brother Jonathan,' who had a part in helping to save the American army in nearly every crisis of the Revolutionary War, and who gave the popular name to the nation, led a remarkable life, and came to be held by Washington as 'among the first of the patriots.' ...

"It has been said that a story of the life of Jonathan Trumbull would furnish material for pen-pictures of the most heroic episodes of the Revolutionary War, and bring to light much secret history of the times when Lebanon, Conn., was in a sense the hidden capital of the political and military councils that influenced the greatest events of the American struggle for liberty...." (excepts from the author's Preface)

**********

Danforth Plays the Game - Ralph Henry Barbour (1870-1944)
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64150

Juvenile

Seven short and mid-sized stories of boarding school, sports and adventure from the prolific "boys books" author Ralph Henry Barbour. This one provides a mix of study, football, stamp collecting, baseball, a puppy (and rats), young boys' hijinks and other adventures that occur, in typical Barbour style.

PG has over 50 books by this author, and I have about 40 more either in progress, or in queue at DP.

[ColleenMc]

Thanks, this is very helpful!

Colleen

[mightyfelix]

I'd be interested in doing the Twelve Golden Rules as a duet with a male reader. Any takers? PM me!

[ColleenMc]

I'd be interested in doing the Twelve Golden Rules as a duet with a male reader. Any takers? PM me!

I hope someone goes for this, I am looking forward to hearing it!

Colleen

[KevinS]

I'd be interested in doing the Twelve Golden Rules as a duet with a male reader. Any takers? PM me!

Haha! Who does the editing?

[mightyfelix]

I'd be interested in doing the Twelve Golden Rules as a duet with a male reader. Any takers? PM me!

Haha! Who does the editing?

I will!

[mightyfelix]

I'd be interested in doing the Twelve Golden Rules as a duet with a male reader. Any takers? PM me!

Launched here: viewtopic.php?f=28&t=84819

[djsmith]

I would like to claim Katharine von Bora. May I claim it as a solo project? I usually am able to record 2-3 chapters a week.

[annise]

This is just suggestions from other LVers - anyone can pick anything they want to try. If you want to do a solo go over to the new projects launch pad, check the sticky at the top to find out how to do it and set it up.

Anne

[armeers]

Would love to read some of the Storm of London! would be my first recording.... read some of the beginning of it, sounds great!!

[miss stav]

I adopted The Storm Of London. A very smart and perseptive book.