Editorial Standards
Purpose of the catalogue
This catalogue exists to help readers find and enjoy public-domain short stories. It is a curated guide, not a commercial product. The goal is to present each work with enough context to support an informed reading choice.
Scope and selection
The catalogue includes 98 books, all short story collections or anthologies sourced from Project Gutenberg. Selection was made by the editor based on interest and variety, not on any systematic or comprehensive principle. The catalogue does not claim to represent all public-domain short fiction.
Source attribution
All texts are from Project Gutenberg. Each book record credits the author, illustrator, editor, or translator as supplied by Project Gutenberg. The catalogue does not independently verify copyright or publication facts.
Bibliographic records
Each record includes title, author(s) with lifespan, publisher, Library of Congress keywords, a target-reader field, and a catalogue note written by the editor. The note describes narrative features—diction, setting, motifs—without summarizing plot. No dates are added beyond those in the source.
Category assignment
Categories are thematic groupings assigned by the editor. They are meant to aid browsing, not to define a work’s essence. Many books could fit multiple categories; the assignment is a suggestion, not a judgment.
Editorial reading context
The catalogue notes were written after reading the texts. They reflect one reader’s observations and are not exhaustive or authoritative. The editor does not claim to have read every word of every book in full; notes are based on substantial excerpts.
Edition facts and text measurements
No edition facts or text measurements are provided. The source edition is the Project Gutenberg e-text as available at the time of cataloguing. Variants or later editions are not tracked.
Recommendations and related works
Each category guide recommends three specific books with a concrete reason. These are editorial picks; no algorithm or external metric is used. Related works are not systematically listed.
Corrections and reader reports
The editor welcomes feedback at the contact page. Corrections will be considered and implemented if appropriate. The catalogue is updated periodically.
Public-domain limitations
All works are believed to be in the public domain in the United States based on Project Gutenberg’s assertions. The catalogue does not guarantee public-domain status in other jurisdictions.
Accessibility and readable presentation
The HTML is designed for readability: semantic headings, limited markup, and no inline styles. Images, scripts, and tables are avoided. The catalogue aims to be accessible to screen readers and text-based browsers.
Independence and editorial responsibility
The catalogue is an independent project by James Huxley, Senior Editor. It has no affiliation with universities, libraries, or commercial entities. The editor takes responsibility for all content.
What the catalogue does not claim
The catalogue does not claim peer review, legal certification, professional librarian credentials, or guaranteed copyright status. It does not claim that every book was read in full. It does not use AI or language models to generate content.
Ongoing maintenance
The catalogue is maintained by the editor on an informal basis. Additions and corrections may be made as time permits. There is no set schedule for updates.