Those Who Smiled, and Eleven Other Stories: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
Those Who Smiled, and Eleven Other Stories: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
Those Who Smiled, and Eleven Other Stories is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Gibbon, Perceval (1879–1926).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"Those Who Smiled" by Perceval Gibbon is a collection of short stories written in the early 20th century. The opening story introduces complex themes of war, morality, and human emotion, depicting the interactions of two military officers—Captain Hahn, a robust German captain epitomizing authority and control, and Lieutenant Jovannic, a more introspective young Austrian officer. As they observe the arrest of a forced-laborer, the story explores the juxtaposition of brute force and the tragic, silent resistance of those subjected to violence. The beginning of "Those Who Smiled" sets the stage with Captain Hahn and Lieutenant Jovannic as they prepare to capture a deserter from a forced labor camp. They observe a scene charged with tension as the villagers react to the violent arrest. Gibbon delves into the detached mindset of Captain Hahn, who prides himself on systematic control over the situation, whereas Jovannic’s discomfort grows as he witnesses the prisoner’s calm acceptance of fate and the villagers' oddly tranquil smiles, which suggest a deeper gravitas to their suffering. Through this opening, Gibbon hints at themes of complicity, the moral weight of authority, and the unfathomable depths of human resilience in the face of tyranny.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Those Who Smiled, and Eleven Other Stories
- Author credits: Gibbon, Perceval (1879–1926)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Fiction
- Short stories
Gutenberg collections
- 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.
Sources
More in Books & Authors
Keep reading
