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Classic Literature

The Cost of Kindness: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition

The Cost of Kindness: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

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AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject
AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject

The Cost of Kindness is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Jerome, Jerome K. (Jerome Klapka) (1859–1927).

Catalogue synopsis

Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:

"The Cost of Kindness" by Jerome K. Jerome is a satirical short story written in the early 20th century. The narrative unfolds in a quaint English village, known as Wychwood-on-the-Heath, where the community is dealing with the departure of their vicar, Reverend Augustus Cracklethorpe. The likely topic of the book revolves around the complexities of human relationships, particularly exploring themes of kindness, misunderstanding, and the often ironic nature of public sentiment. The storyline centers on the interactions between Mr. and Mrs. Pennycoop and the Rev. Cracklethorpe as the couple seeks to extend a gesture of kindness to their departing vicar. Mrs. Pennycoop's sincere efforts to reconcile, despite the vicar's unpopularity and the congregation's previous resentment towards him, inadvertently reveal the hidden sentiments of the community. The unexpected turn of events leads to a dramatic farewell service in which the vicar, upon realizing that his congregation actually holds affection for him, decides to stay—conditional on the provision of financial support to hire a curate. The narrative humorously critiques human nature and the illusions that often cloud personal interactions, ultimately emphasizing that kindness, while often overestimated in its real cost, can unveil deeper truths in relationships.

Book and edition facts

  • Title: The Cost of Kindness
  • Author credits: Jerome, Jerome K. (Jerome Klapka) (1859–1927)
  • Catalogue language: English

Catalogue subjects

  • Fiction
  • Short stories

Gutenberg collections

  • Category: British Literature
  • Category: Humour
  • Category: Short Stories

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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