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Ely's Automatic Housemaid: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition

Ely's Automatic Housemaid: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

Published by Pop Culture Files••2 min read•Automatically generated · review not guaranteed
AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject
AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject

Ely's Automatic Housemaid is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Bellamy, Elizabeth W. (Elizabeth Whitfield) (1837–1900).

Catalogue synopsis

Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:

"Ely's Automatic Housemaid" by Elizabeth W. Bellamy is a satirical science fiction story written in the late 19th century. The narrative centers around the character Harrison Ely, a mechanical genius who invents an automatic household servant designed to relieve families of domestic burdens. The book explores themes of modernity and the sometimes absurd consequences of technological advancements. The plot follows the protagonist who, frustrated by a series of incompetent cooks and housemaids, decides to invest in Ely's invention. Upon receiving two mechanical servants, dubbed “Juliana” and “Bridget,” the family eagerly sets them to work, only to find themselves dealing with unexpected chaos as the machines malfunction. As the automatons engage in unpredictable antics, such as fighting over a broom and refusing to follow tasks correctly, the narrative humorously examines human reliance on machines and the notion of progress in domestic life. Ultimately, the story raises questions about the potential pitfalls of technology, while underscoring the importance of human oversight in managing devices meant to enhance daily living.

Book and edition facts

  • Title: Ely's Automatic Housemaid
  • Author credits: Bellamy, Elizabeth W. (Elizabeth Whitfield) (1837–1900)
  • Catalogue language: English

Catalogue subjects

  • Housekeeping -- Fiction
  • Inventions -- Fiction
  • Robots -- Fiction
  • Science fiction
  • Short stories

Gutenberg collections

  • Category: Humour
  • Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy

Read this edition

View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.

Source notes

Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.

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