[Next Project] Beric the Briton by G. A. Henty

[Jim Turnbull]

For my next project I'm going to look at Beric the Briton by G. A. Henty.

Sources:

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/7037
https://archive.org/details/bwb_O8-BXK-178/

Not sure what to do for cover art yet, but will tackle that issue later, unless anyone has any suggestions.

Repo created:

https://github.com/misterjaytee/g-a-henty_beric-the-briton

One question...

I noticed that the Gutenberg text has all the chapters starting with <h1> tags, whereas my first book (and the step-by-step production notes) have <h2> tags.

Does the Standard Ebooks toolset require each chapter starts with <h2> tags in order to do the split correctly (i.e. would you prefer that I change all the h1 to h2)?

[Jim Turnbull]

Just answered my own question, split-file doesn't look at the h1/h2 tags (it looks for the se:split comment). 

So I guess the question is whether I'm okay to leave the source h1 tags as-is, or would SE prefer that these are changed to h2 tags?

[Robin Whittleton]

Change them to h2s to match the rest of the corpus.

-Robin

On 19 Oct 2025, at 13:11, Jim Turnbull <misterjay...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Alex Cabal]

OK, Robin will manage with Weijia reviewing.

Note the subtitle, you'll have to include it in the metadata and half
title page.

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[Jim Turnbull]

I've pushed up commits up to the point where I'll now be proofreading.

I was aware of the subtitle element and I'll add the half page and make sure subtitle is in the metadata when I come back to this after proofreading.

[Alex Cabal]

You needed a half title anyway because there's a preface

On 10/19/25 11:40 AM, Jim Turnbull wrote:
> I've pushed up commits up to the point where I'll now be proofreading.
>
> I was aware of the subtitle element and I'll add the half page and make
> sure subtitle is in the metadata when I come back to this after
> proofreading.
>
> On Sunday, 19 October 2025 at 16:40:13 UTC+1 Alex Cabal wrote:
>
> OK, Robin will manage with Weijia reviewing.
>
> Note the subtitle, you'll have to include it in the metadata and half
> title page.
>
> On 10/19/25 5:50 AM, Jim Turnbull wrote:
> > For my next project I'm going to look at Beric the Briton by G.
> A. Henty.
> >
> > Sources:

> > https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/7037 <https://www.gutenberg.org/
> ebooks/7037>
> > https://archive.org/details/bwb_O8-BXK-178/ <https://archive.org/
> details/bwb_O8-BXK-178/>

> >
> >
> > Not sure what to do for cover art yet, but will tackle that issue
> later,
> > unless anyone has any suggestions.
> >
> > Repo created:
> > https://github.com/misterjaytee/g-a-henty_beric-the-briton
> <https://github.com/misterjaytee/g-a-henty_beric-the-briton>
> >
> > One question...
> > I noticed that the Gutenberg text has all the chapters starting with
> > <h1> tags, whereas my first book (and the step-by-step production
> notes)
> > have <h2> tags.
> >
> > Does the Standard Ebooks toolset require each chapter starts with
> <h2>
> > tags in order to do the split correctly (i.e. would you prefer
> that I
> > change all the h1 to h2)?
> >
> >
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[Weijia Cheng]

Ok, review noted.

[Jim Turnbull]

Okay, thanks. I've added half title page and preface.

[Jim Turnbull]

As discussed with Alex, this project is still in progress. Half way through reading, but also busy with other projects/work. Expect that completion of this project will be in January.

[Jim Turnbull]

Meanwhile, here's some possible artwork for the cover:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Queen_Boudica_by_John_Opie.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sir_Lawrence_Alma-Tadema,_RA,_OM_-_A_Roman_Emperor_(Claudius)_-_Walters_37165.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Curtius_Leaping_into_the_Gulf_1842.png

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_Bell_Scott_(1811-1890)_-_The_Romans_Cause_a_Wall_to_Be_Built_for_the_Protection_of_the_South_-_584365_-_National_Trust.jpg

The first one may be a bit dark for a book cover, but given that Boudica (Boadicea in the book) forms part of the storyline, it would be good if that one is acceptable.

On Sunday, 19 October 2025 at 19:29:35 UTC+1 Jim Turnbull wrote:

[Robin Whittleton]

I could see it working? My personal favourite of these purely from an aesthetic point of view is the 4th, but I’ve don’t have any good idea if it accurately represents the content.

The biggest thing though is that you need to make sure that the cover you want is actually public domain: just having a copy on Wikimedia isn’t good enough unfortunately. That means that we either need the owning museum to give it a CC0 designation (and be on our approved museums list), or that you’ve found a photo of the artwork printed in a book with a publication of 1929 or earlier. We’ve got a guide on this at https://standardebooks.org/contribute/how-tos/how-to-choose-and-create-a-cover-image.

Note: Wikimedia has an etching of the painting attached to the first, but we need a photo, an etching isn’t enough.

-Robin

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[Jim Turnbull]

The artwork is a struggle. I've researched for many hours over the last few days for lots of different ideas for images, and even though the images are PD and CC0, I cannot find them in any books created before 1930 (which seems to be the overriding criteria).

In the absence of any other images, which I'll still keep looking for, please could I use this one - Messina features in the book on a couple of occassions, and is also mentioned in subsequent dialog in the book:

https://standardebooks.org/artworks/jean-charles-joseph-remond/ancient-ruins-near-messina-sicil

[Vince]

As SEMoS 10.3.3.7.4 says (emphasis mine):

Images that are explicitly marked as CC0 from these museums can be used without further research. Not all of their images are CC0; you must confirm the presence of a CC0 license on the specific image you want to use.

[Jim Turnbull]

Thanks for the clarification. 

So something like this might be okay?
https://zbiory.mnk.pl/en/search-result/catalog/269717

[Jim Turnbull]

Just seen this in the SE library of images, so I guess would have been okay had it not been in use. I'll keep searching...

[Robin Whittleton]

Much nicer colours in your copy though, I guess Alex might want to update the SE copy (and Quo Vadis).

For the fourth of your original images “The Romans cause a Wall to be built for the Protection of the South”, I’ve found PD proof in a 1909 book: https://archive.org/details/cassellshistoryo01londuoft/page/n39/mode/1up. It needs to be verified, but I’ve added it to the DB at https://standardebooks.org/artworks/william-bell-scott/the-romans-cause-a-wall-to-be-built-for-the-protection-of-the-south.

-Robin

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[Alex Cabal]

Looks good, I've approved it and assigned it to this ebook.

I'll also update Quo Vadis, thanks for pointing that out!

On 12/31/25 8:38 AM, Robin Whittleton wrote:
> Much nicer colours in your copy though, I guess Alex might want to
> update the SE copy (and Quo Vadis).
>
> For the fourth of your original images “The Romans cause a Wall to be
> built for the Protection of the South”, I’ve found PD proof in a 1909
> book: https://archive.org/details/cassellshistoryo01londuoft/page/n39/

> mode/1up <https://archive.org/details/cassellshistoryo01londuoft/page/
> n39/mode/1up>. It needs to be verified, but I’ve added it to the DB at
> https://standardebooks.org/artworks/william-bell-scott/the-romans-cause-
> a-wall-to-be-built-for-the-protection-of-the-south <https://
> standardebooks.org/artworks/william-bell-scott/the-romans-cause-a-wall-
> to-be-built-for-the-protection-of-the-south>.

>
> -Robin
>
>> On 31 Dec 2025, at 13:26, Jim Turnbull <misterjay...@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Just seen this in the SE library of images, so I guess would have been
>> okay had it not been in use. I'll keep searching...
>>
>>
>> On Wednesday, 31 December 2025 at 12:23:45 UTC Jim Turnbull wrote:
>>
>> Thanks for the clarification.
>>
>> So something like this might be okay?

>> https://zbiory.mnk.pl/en/search-result/catalog/269717 <https://
>> zbiory.mnk.pl/en/search-result/catalog/269717>

>>
>>
>> On Wednesday, 31 December 2025 at 10:37:55 UTC Vince wrote:
>>

>> As SEMoS 10.3.3.7.4 <https://standardebooks.org/manual/1.8.5/
>> single-page#10.3.3.7.4> says (emphasis mine):
>>
>>> Images that are explicitly marked as CC0 from these museums/
>>> *can be used without further research*/. Not all of their

>>> images are CC0; you must confirm the presence of a CC0
>>> license on the specific image you want to use.
>>
>>
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[Jim Turnbull]

Proofreading done, I've amended 3 spelling mistakes that were errors in the transcription compared to the book.

Cover art also added.

[Alex Cabal]

Are you ready for a review or is there still work to be done?

On 1/12/26 11:38 AM, Jim Turnbull wrote:
> Proofreading done, I've amended 3 spelling mistakes that were errors in
> the transcription compared to the book.
>
> Cover art also added.
>
>
> On Wednesday, 31 December 2025 at 15:41:02 UTC Alex Cabal wrote:
>
> Looks good, I've approved it and assigned it to this ebook.
>
> I'll also update Quo Vadis, thanks for pointing that out!
>
> On 12/31/25 8:38 AM, Robin Whittleton wrote:
> > Much nicer colours in your copy though, I guess Alex might want to
> > update the SE copy (and Quo Vadis).
> >
> > For the fourth of your original images “The Romans cause a Wall
> to be
> > built for the Protection of the South”, I’ve found PD proof in a
> 1909
> > book: https://archive.org/details/cassellshistoryo01londuoft/

> page/n39/ <https://archive.org/details/cassellshistoryo01londuoft/
> page/n39/>
> > mode/1up <https://archive.org/details/cassellshistoryo01londuoft/
> page/ <https://archive.org/details/cassellshistoryo01londuoft/page/>

> > n39/mode/1up>. It needs to be verified, but I’ve added it to the
> DB at
> > https://standardebooks.org/artworks/william-bell-scott/the-

> romans-cause- <https://standardebooks.org/artworks/william-bell-
> scott/the-romans-cause->
> > a-wall-to-be-built-for-the-protection-of-the-south <https://
> > standardebooks.org/artworks/william-bell-scott/the-romans-cause-
> a-wall- <http://standardebooks.org/artworks/william-bell-scott/the-

> romans-cause-a-wall->
> > to-be-built-for-the-protection-of-the-south>.
> >
> > -Robin
> >
> >> On 31 Dec 2025, at 13:26, Jim Turnbull <misterjay...@gmail.com>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> Just seen this in the SE library of images, so I guess would
> have been
> >> okay had it not been in use. I'll keep searching...
> >>
> >>
> >> On Wednesday, 31 December 2025 at 12:23:45 UTC Jim Turnbull wrote:
> >>
> >> Thanks for the clarification.
> >>
> >> So something like this might be okay?
> >> https://zbiory.mnk.pl/en/search-result/catalog/269717 <https://

> zbiory.mnk.pl/en/search-result/catalog/269717> <https://
> >> zbiory.mnk.pl/en/search-result/catalog/269717 <http://

> zbiory.mnk.pl/en/search-result/catalog/269717>>
> >>
> >>
> >> On Wednesday, 31 December 2025 at 10:37:55 UTC Vince wrote:
> >>
> >> As SEMoS 10.3.3.7.4 <https://standardebooks.org/manual/1.8.5/
> <https://standardebooks.org/manual/1.8.5/>
> >> single-page#10.3.3.7.4> says (emphasis mine):
> >>
> >>> Images that are explicitly marked as CC0 from these museums/
> >>> *can be used without further research*/. Not all of their
> >>> images are CC0; you must confirm the presence of a CC0
> >>> license on the specific image you want to use.
> >>
> >>
> >> --
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> it, send
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[Robin Whittleton]

So you’re ready for a review?

-Robin

On 12 Jan 2026, at 18:39, Jim Turnbull <misterjay...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Jim Turnbull]

Not quite ready for review. I need to complete the content.opf, imprint and colophon.

[Weijia Cheng]

Ok, just let us know when you're fully ready!

[Jim Turnbull]

I've resized the image after se lint errored. Let me know if this is okay.

I've worked through the  content.opf, imprint and colopho, fixed up any lint errors and re-run clean, typogrify and sematicate to make sure there's no additional changes identified.

This has now been pushed up and is ready for review.

[Jim Turnbull]

In case you missed it, this is ready for review

[Weijia Cheng]

Thanks for the reminder! I'll look at it in a bit.

[Weijia Cheng]

Very nice work! I noticed a couple of small issues.

[Jim Turnbull]

Thanks for this. I've pushed up the required changes.

[Weijia Cheng]

Alex, this is ready for you.

[Alex Cabal]

OK, looks very good Jim. Great cover art find. I've released it, thanks!

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