[First Project] House of Gentlefolk by Ivan Turgenev

[Stephan Bots]

Hello,

I'd like to do Ivan Turgenev's House of Gentlefolk as a first project.

- Page scans: https://archive.org/details/harvardclassicss0000unse_m9g2/page/196/mode/2up
- Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/5721

I've noticed that the Standard Ebooks edition of Fathers and Children contains the same front matter (Biographical Note and Criticisms and Interpretations) since they come from the same book. Should these be included in the House of Gentlefolk as well?

[Alex Cabal]

Great, that one would be a good start.

I see there are a lot of italics for language, make sure to correctly
add language attributes to those. I also see some verse/poetry, see the
manual for how to style that.

Don't include the frontmatter that we already have in the other ebook.

Otherwise this is pretty straightforward!

Make sure to read the Standard Ebooks Manual of Style before starting,
as you won't know what to fix if you haven't read the standards. In
particular, please closely review the semantics, high level patterns,
and typography sections:

https://standardebooks.org/manual

https://standardebooks.org/manual/latest/4-semantics

https://standardebooks.org/manual/latest/7-high-level-structural-patterns

https://standardebooks.org/manual/latest/8-typography

The step by step guide will take you from start to finish:

https://standardebooks.org/contribute/producing-an-ebook-step-by-step

This page on common issues in older books may be useful:

https://standardebooks.org/contribute/how-tos/common-issues-when-working-on-public-domain-ebooks

Please email often if you have any questions at all. Our standards are
well-established so there is probably already a standard for formatting
whatever problem you've encountered.

When you're ready, email back with a link to your Github repository so
that I can mark you as having started.

Have fun! :)

On 9/11/25 4:21 AM, Stephan Bots wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I'd like to do Ivan Turgenev's House of Gentlefolk as a first project.
>
> - Page scans: https://archive.org/details/harvardclassicss0000unse_m9g2/
> page/196/mode/2up
> - Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/5721
>
> I've noticed that the Standard Ebooks edition of Fathers and Children

> contains the same front matter (Biographical Note <https://
> standardebooks.org/ebooks/ivan-turgenev/fathers-and-children/constance-
> garnett/text/biographical-note> and Criticisms and Interpretations
> <https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/ivan-turgenev/fathers-and-children/
> constance-garnett/text/criticisms-and-interpretations>) since they come

> from the same book. Should these be included in the House of Gentlefolk
> as well?
>

> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
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> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/
> standardebooks/0eb8fee5-4c96-4d3f-89b8-8d1f21ebd992n%40googlegroups.com?
> utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.

[Stephan Bots]

Great, I've got a repo set up here https://github.com/spbots/ivan-turgenev_a-house-of-gentlefolk_constance-garnett and I'm currently proofreading. Thanks for the clear and helpful start-up instructions! :)

[Alex Cabal]

OK, Emma will manage this with David reviewing.

On 9/12/25 3:16 AM, Stephan Bots wrote:
> Great, I've got a repo set up here https://github.com/spbots/ivan-
> turgenev_a-house-of-gentlefolk_constance-garnett and I'm currently
> proofreading. Thanks for the clear and helpful start-up instructions! :)
>
> On Thursday, 11 September 2025 at 20:00:10 UTC+2 Alex Cabal wrote:
>
> Great, that one would be a good start.
>
> I see there are a lot of italics for language, make sure to correctly
> add language attributes to those. I also see some verse/poetry, see the
> manual for how to style that.
>
> Don't include the frontmatter that we already have in the other ebook.
>
> Otherwise this is pretty straightforward!
>
> Make sure to read the Standard Ebooks Manual of Style before starting,
> as you won't know what to fix if you haven't read the standards. In
> particular, please closely review the semantics, high level patterns,
> and typography sections:
>
> https://standardebooks.org/manual <https://standardebooks.org/manual>
>

> https://standardebooks.org/manual/latest/4-semantics <https://
> standardebooks.org/manual/latest/4-semantics>
>
> https://standardebooks.org/manual/latest/7-high-level-structural-
> patterns <https://standardebooks.org/manual/latest/7-high-level-
> structural-patterns>
>
> https://standardebooks.org/manual/latest/8-typography <https://
> standardebooks.org/manual/latest/8-typography>

>
> The step by step guide will take you from start to finish:
>
> https://standardebooks.org/contribute/producing-an-ebook-step-by-

> step <https://standardebooks.org/contribute/producing-an-ebook-step-
> by-step>

>
> This page on common issues in older books may be useful:
>
> https://standardebooks.org/contribute/how-tos/common-issues-when-

> working-on-public-domain-ebooks <https://standardebooks.org/
> contribute/how-tos/common-issues-when-working-on-public-domain-ebooks>

>
> Please email often if you have any questions at all. Our standards are
> well-established so there is probably already a standard for formatting
> whatever problem you've encountered.
>
> When you're ready, email back with a link to your Github repository so
> that I can mark you as having started.
>
> Have fun! :)
>
>
> On 9/11/25 4:21 AM, Stephan Bots wrote:
> > Hello,
> >
> > I'd like to do Ivan Turgenev's House of Gentlefolk as a first
> project.
> >
> > - Page scans: https://archive.org/details/

> harvardclassicss0000unse_m9g2/ <https://archive.org/details/
> harvardclassicss0000unse_m9g2/>

> > page/196/mode/2up
> > - Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/5721
> <https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/5721>
> >
> > I've noticed that the Standard Ebooks edition of Fathers and
> Children
> > contains the same front matter (Biographical Note <https://
> > standardebooks.org/ebooks/ivan-turgenev/fathers-and-children/

> constance- <http://standardebooks.org/ebooks/ivan-turgenev/fathers-

> and-children/constance->
> > garnett/text/biographical-note> and Criticisms and Interpretations
> > <https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/ivan-turgenev/fathers-and-

> children/ <https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/ivan-turgenev/fathers-
> and-children/>

> > constance-garnett/text/criticisms-and-interpretations>) since
> they come
> > from the same book. Should these be included in the House of
> Gentlefolk
> > as well?
> >
> > --
> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> > Groups "Standard Ebooks" group.
> > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it,
> send
> > an email to standardebook...@googlegroups.com
> > <mailto:standardebook...@googlegroups.com>.
> > To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/

> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/>
> >
> standardebooks/0eb8fee5-4c96-4d3f-89b8-8d1f21ebd992n%40googlegroups.com <http://40googlegroups.com>
> > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ <https://groups.google.com/d/
> msgid/>
> >
> standardebooks/0eb8fee5-4c96-4d3f-89b8-8d1f21ebd992n%40googlegroups.com <http://40googlegroups.com>?
> > utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.

>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
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> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send
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> <mailto:standardebook...@googlegroups.com>.
> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/

> standardebooks/d881172f-1792-48b0-b956-9b0d845de1bbn%40googlegroups.com
> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/standardebooks/d881172f-1792-48b0-
> b956-9b0d845de1bbn%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.

[Stephan Bots]

Alright, I've done a first readthrough and found quite a few places where the PG text didn't match the page scans, as well as some small editorial changes. These are all committed on the main branch.

I also have a few commits (on a separate branch) that have questions about other potential editorial changes:

- Emphasizing mispronunciations (CAPS in PG, diácrítics in the source)

- Referring to titles of a work (rather than referring to the work itself)

- The appropriate place to add a missing close quotation mark

I'm now on the hunt for some appropriate cover artwork :)

[Devin O'Bannon]

Hello all,

Looks like the website link for this ebook is incorrect. It will need to be fixed.

Thanks,

Devin

[Alex Cabal]

Why is it incorrect?

On 9/15/25 11:36 AM, Devin O'Bannon wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> Looks like the website link for this ebook is incorrect. It will need to
> be fixed.

> Screenshot 2025-09-15 at 11.34.44 AM.png
> Thanks,
>
> Devin
> On Saturday, September 13, 2025 at 1:52:28 PM UTC-5 stephan...@gmail.com
> wrote:
>
> Alright, I've done a first readthrough and found quite a few places
> where the PG text didn't match the page scans, as well as some small
> editorial changes. These are all committed on the main branch

> <https://github.com/spbots/ivan-turgenev_a-house-of-
> gentlefolk_constance-garnett/commits/main/>.
>
> I also have a few commits (on a separate branch <https://github.com/
> spbots/ivan-turgenev_a-house-of-gentlefolk_constance-garnett/
> compare/main...WIP>) that have questions about other potential
> editorial changes:
> - Emphasizing mispronunciations <https://github.com/spbots/ivan-
> turgenev_a-house-of-gentlefolk_constance-garnett/
> commit/012b5dc36783a413e68334bc49613986f89ac3d0> (CAPS in PG,
> diácrítics in the source)
> - Referring to titles of a work <https://github.com/spbots/ivan-
> turgenev_a-house-of-gentlefolk_constance-garnett/commit/
> e3abffb7a2af710121c761eaa5f0816be9488ab9> (rather than referring to

> the work itself)
> - The appropriate place to add a missing close quotation mark

> <https://github.com/spbots/ivan-turgenev_a-house-of-
> gentlefolk_constance-garnett/
> commit/2053f3fe2aebcba8921f144b515f5f447edb0ee2>

>
> I'm now on the hunt for some appropriate cover artwork :)
> On Friday, 12 September 2025 at 18:29:28 UTC+2 Alex Cabal wrote:
>
> OK, Emma will manage this with David reviewing.
>
> On 9/12/25 3:16 AM, Stephan Bots wrote:
> > Great, I've got a repo set up here https://github.com/spbots/

> ivan- <https://github.com/spbots/ivan->

> > turgenev_a-house-of-gentlefolk_constance-garnett and I'm
> currently
> > proofreading. Thanks for the clear and helpful start-up
> instructions! :)
> >
> > On Thursday, 11 September 2025 at 20:00:10 UTC+2 Alex Cabal
> wrote:
> >
> > Great, that one would be a good start.
> >
> > I see there are a lot of italics for language, make sure to
> correctly
> > add language attributes to those. I also see some verse/
> poetry, see the
> > manual for how to style that.
> >
> > Don't include the frontmatter that we already have in the
> other ebook.
> >
> > Otherwise this is pretty straightforward!
> >
> > Make sure to read the Standard Ebooks Manual of Style before
> starting,
> > as you won't know what to fix if you haven't read the
> standards. In
> > particular, please closely review the semantics, high level
> patterns,
> > and typography sections:
> >
> > https://standardebooks.org/manual <https://

> standardebooks.org/manual> <https://standardebooks.org/manual

> <https://standardebooks.org/manual>>
> >
> > https://standardebooks.org/manual/latest/4-semantics
> <https://standardebooks.org/manual/latest/4-semantics> <https://

> > standardebooks.org/manual/latest/4-semantics <http://
> standardebooks.org/manual/latest/4-semantics>>
> >
> > https://standardebooks.org/manual/latest/7-high-level-
> structural- <https://standardebooks.org/manual/latest/7-high-
> level-structural->
> > patterns <https://standardebooks.org/manual/latest/7-high-
> level- <https://standardebooks.org/manual/latest/7-high-level->
> > structural-patterns>
> >
> > https://standardebooks.org/manual/latest/8-typography
> <https://standardebooks.org/manual/latest/8-typography> <https://
> > standardebooks.org/manual/latest/8-typography <http://

> standardebooks.org/manual/latest/8-typography>>
> >
> > The step by step guide will take you from start to finish:
> >
> > https://standardebooks.org/contribute/producing-an-ebook-

> step-by- <https://standardebooks.org/contribute/producing-an-
> ebook-step-by->
> > step <https://standardebooks.org/contribute/producing-an-
> ebook-step- <https://standardebooks.org/contribute/producing-an-
> ebook-step->

> > by-step>
> >
> > This page on common issues in older books may be useful:
> >
> > https://standardebooks.org/contribute/how-tos/common-issues-

> when- <https://standardebooks.org/contribute/how-tos/common-
> issues-when->
> > working-on-public-domain-ebooks <https://standardebooks.org/
> <https://standardebooks.org/>
> > contribute/how-tos/common-issues-when-working-on-public-

> domain-ebooks>
> >
> > Please email often if you have any questions at all. Our
> standards are
> > well-established so there is probably already a standard for
> formatting
> > whatever problem you've encountered.
> >
> > When you're ready, email back with a link to your Github
> repository so
> > that I can mark you as having started.
> >
> > Have fun! :)
> >
> >
> > On 9/11/25 4:21 AM, Stephan Bots wrote:
> > > Hello,
> > >
> > > I'd like to do Ivan Turgenev's House of Gentlefolk as a first
> > project.
> > >

> > > - Page scans: https://archive.org/details/ <https://
> archive.org/details/>
> > harvardclassicss0000unse_m9g2/ <https://archive.org/details/

> <https://archive.org/details/>
> > harvardclassicss0000unse_m9g2/>
> > > page/196/mode/2up
> > > - Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/5721
> <https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/5721>

> > <https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/5721 <https://

> www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/5721>>
> > >
> > > I've noticed that the Standard Ebooks edition of Fathers and
> > Children
> > > contains the same front matter (Biographical Note <https://
> > > standardebooks.org/ebooks/ivan-turgenev/fathers-and-

> children/ <http://standardebooks.org/ebooks/ivan-turgenev/
> fathers-and-children/>
> > constance- <http://standardebooks.org/ebooks/ivan-turgenev/
> fathers- <http://standardebooks.org/ebooks/ivan-turgenev/fathers->

> > and-children/constance->
> > > garnett/text/biographical-note> and Criticisms and
> Interpretations
> > > <https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/ivan-turgenev/fathers-

> and- <https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/ivan-turgenev/fathers-and->
> > children/ <https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/ivan-turgenev/
> fathers- <https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/ivan-turgenev/fathers->

> > and-children/>
> > > constance-garnett/text/criticisms-and-interpretations>) since
> > they come
> > > from the same book. Should these be included in the House of
> > Gentlefolk
> > > as well?
> > >
> > > --
> > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the
> Google
> > > Groups "Standard Ebooks" group.
> > > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails
> from it,
> > send
> > > an email to standardebook...@googlegroups.com
> > > <mailto:standardebook...@googlegroups.com>.
> > > To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/
> msgid/ <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/>

> > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ <https://
> groups.google.com/d/msgid/>>
> > >
> >

> standardebooks/0eb8fee5-4c96-4d3f-89b8-8d1f21ebd992n%40googlegroups.com <http://40googlegroups.com> <http://40googlegroups.com <http://40googlegroups.com>>
> > > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ <https://
> groups.google.com/d/msgid/> <https://groups.google.com/d/
> <https://groups.google.com/d/>
> > msgid/>
> > >
> >
> standardebooks/0eb8fee5-4c96-4d3f-89b8-8d1f21ebd992n%40googlegroups.com <http://40googlegroups.com> <http://40googlegroups.com <http://40googlegroups.com>>?

> > > utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.
> >
> > --
> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the
> Google
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> it, send
> > an email to standardebook...@googlegroups.com
> > <mailto:standardebook...@googlegroups.com>.
> > To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/

> msgid/ <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/>
> > standardebooks/d881172f-1792-48b0-
> b956-9b0d845de1bbn%40googlegroups.com <http://40googlegroups.com>
> > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/standardebooks/
> d881172f-1792-48b0- <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/
> standardebooks/d881172f-1792-48b0->
> > b956-9b0d845de1bbn%40googlegroups.com?
> utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer <http://40googlegroups.com?

> utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>>.
>
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> standardebooks/6843369f-9fe4-40b2-86eb-cdbd58c29bb5n%40googlegroups.com?
> utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.

[Alex Cabal]

Never mind, I see now

[Emma Sweeney]

For the editorial changes:

1. Emphasizing mispronunciations: Follow the page scans; PG has a habit of replacing diacritics with alternate formatting. Having both diacritics and italics is kind of redundant.

2. Referring to titles of a work: That's fine.

3. The appropriate place to add a missing close quotation mark: Did you look at other editions to see if they corrected this?

Emma

[Stephan Bots]

Thanks for your help Emma :)

1. I'll stick with the page scans (diacritics only)
2. 👍️ I've made a commit for italicizing the works
3. Thanks for the suggestion! I've now checked some other editions — the ones I've found that use the Garnett translation (Harvard Shelf of Fiction, William Heinemann/The MacMillan Company) all have the same missing quotation mark. I've found other translations that resolve the missing punctuation. Using a reduced version of the current incorrect sentence:

    “…hair of the dog that bit us (‘le cadastre,’ thought L). “More quote.”

The one I've seen in other translations (Coulson, similar in and Ralston and Hapgood) is:

    “…hair of the dog that bit us.” (“Le cadastre,” thought L.) “More quote.”

So I've made that change in this commit. (I've seen another that trims the "hair of the dog" idiom and doesn't close the quote (Isaacs translation) but this doesn't seem like the correct change.)

[Emma Sweeney]

3. I think that looks correct. If a better solution is found, this commit can be easily changed.

Emma

[Stephan Bots]

I had a look through the SE art collection, and Émile Friant's Cast Shadows seems like it would be a good fit for the book. I get a sense of unmet desire from the man, which feels like it fits well with the book's overall theme. Here's how the cover could look after cropping:

[Emma Sweeney]

Looks good! I've updated the art db.

Emma

[Stephan Bots]

Thanks!

I've gone all the way through the Step by Step guide (except the publishing) so the github repo should be ready for review :)

[David]

Okay! I should be able to get to this before the weekend; I'll let you know when the review's up.

David / Fife, UK