Condensed Novels by Bret Harte
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"Condensed Novels" by Bret Harte is a collection of parodic tales written during the late 19th century. This unique assortment weaves together humor and sharp social commentary, as it lightly satirizes various narrative styles and tropes prevalent in popular literature of the time. Through its humorous retellings of popular genres and classical stories, the work highlights the absurdities and contradictions within human relationships and society. The opening of "Condensed Novels" introduces readers
to a series of brief, engaging narratives, each promising their own blend of wit and mischievous commentary. For instance, the first tale, "Handsome Is as Handsome Does," sets off with an exploration of the Dodd family's legacy and introduces Faraday Little, a clever but plain-looking boy caught in a world that values appearance over intellect. As Little interacts with his guardians and navigates childhood dramas, including a life-saving moment with a young girl, the story unfolds with Harte's signature wit, framing deeper human truths within light-hearted anecdotes. Overall, the beginning sets a playful tone that invites readers into a whimsical yet reflective exploration of the quirks of society and character. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Harte, Bret, 1836-1902 |
|---|---|
| Title | Condensed Novels |
| Contents | Handsome is as handsome does -- Lothaw -- Muck-a-muck -- Terence Denville -- Selina Sedilia -- The ninety-nine guardsmen -- The dweller of the threshold -- The haunted man -- Miss Mix -- Guy Heavystone -- Mr. Midshipman Breezy -- John Jenkins -- No title -- Being a novel in the French paragraphic style -- Fantine -- La femme -- Mary Mcgillup. |
| Credits |
Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer. HTML version by Al Haines. |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 75.6 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Fiction |
| Subject | Parodies |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 2277 |
| Release Date | Aug 1, 2000 |
| Last Update | Dec 31, 2020 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 367 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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