Project Gutenberg

This self-proclaimed first producer of free electronic books (ebooks) is a must visit for anyone. If you haven't heard of it before here's the link:

http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page

Of course if you can donate even a penny when you download an ebook the producers of this site are very happy. More is better but it's voluntary.

So just who is behind Project Gutenberg? Again, from the site:

Project Gutenberg is the first and largest single collection of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971and continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.\

You can find essays from Michael Hart at the site.

I was excited to find an entry of one of my great-great grandfather's books in the collection. Wallace Bruce's The Hudson is available for download at:

http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/17823

Wallace Bruce was quite famous in his day, the equivalent of some of our super stars today. He would tour the country and the world lecturing on Robert Burns, Scottish history and traditions and of course, the multitude of poetry that he penned. Just about every paper carried stories in anticipation of his arrival and chronicled his appearances. He also served as US Counsul General in Edinburgh Scotland while simultaneously serving as Scotland's Poet Laurate - exactly 100 years after Robert Burn held the post, which was only fiting since Wallace Bruce was considered a world-renowned scholar on the subject of Robert Burns and his poetry.

So, why do I suggest Project Gutenberg? It's not just because one of my ancestors is listed but the philosophy of the project would please Wallace Bruce, especially since he was instrumental in bringing the original Chautauqua to DeFuniak Springs, Florida. In fact his cottage house still stands on historic Circle Drive. Here's a link to the newly revived movement:

http://www.florida-chautauqua-center.org/what_history.htm

I believe that education and knowledge is power and with the internet so much more is at our finger tips to direct our lives in a contructive, healthy direction and to share that with others.

So, take a tour of Project Gutenberg.