The Preliminaries, and Other Stories: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Preliminaries, and Other Stories: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The Preliminaries, and Other Stories is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Comer, Cornelia A. P. (Cornelia Atwood Pratt) (1865–1929).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
“The Preliminaries, and Other Stories” by Cornelia A. P. Comer is a collection of short stories written in the early 20th century. The stories explore complex themes of love, family struggle, social pressures, and individual aspirations, often through the lens of interpersonal relationships. The leading story follows Oliver Pickersgill, a young man in love with Ruth Lannithorne, the daughter of a man imprisoned for embezzlement, as he navigates the complications that arise from their respective family backgrounds. The opening of the collection introduces readers to Oliver Pickersgill and his romantic interest, Ruth Lannithorne, whose attachment to her father significantly impacts their courtship. Oliver seeks Ruth’s hand in marriage, but she insists he show respect for her father, a convict, highlighting their starkly different family experiences. As Oliver learns more about Ruth's troubled family dynamics, particularly her mother's struggles, he is confronted with the societal complexities that complicate their love. This engaging opening sets the stage for a deeper examination of the characters’ emotional journeys as they grapple with love, loyalty, and societal expectations.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Preliminaries, and Other Stories
- Author credits: Comer, Cornelia A. P. (Cornelia Atwood Pratt) (1865–1929)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Marriage -- Fiction
- Mother and child -- Fiction
- Short stories
Gutenberg collections
- Category: American Literature
- Category: Novels
- Category: Short Stories
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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.


