[First Project] The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim

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Jennifer Frye

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May 20, 2023, 10:19:02 PM5/20/23

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Hi—I'd like to propose "The Enchanted April" by Elizabeth von Arnim as my first project. It’s about 80,000 words and doesn’t have much unusual formatting other than a handful of letters/newspaper clippings that will need to be set as block quotes.

Project Gutenberg transcripts: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16389

Book scans (from a 1923 manuscript): https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112039914905&view=1up&seq=13

Alex Cabal

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May 22, 2023, 12:32:17 PM5/22/23

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Sure, that one would be a good start.

You might be able to use the painting on the original cover for the
cover art. But the scan at PG looks a little muddy. Maybe you can find a
higher quality scan?

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

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! :)

> https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112039914905&view=1up&seq=13 <https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112039914905&view=1up&seq=13>
>
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Jennifer Frye

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Jun 4, 2023, 9:15:17 PM6/4/23

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All right, I think I am largely done with the bulk of the work up until creating the cover image. Repository here: https://github.com/jennfrye/elizabeth-von-arnim_the-enchanted-april

However, I've run into a formatting challenge with the three letters. I've formatted them according to the style guide, but the result is that they look a bit different than in the source scans. I know the style guide says that the rules can be bent when appropriate, but I'm not sure 1) to what extent the formatting should mirror the source, or 2) how to adjust the CSS. Attached are screenshots of the letters, with the ebook rendering on the left and the source scans on the right (I've since corrected the capitalization).

Re: the cover image, the PG cover is definitely off color-wise when compared to other scans not in the public domain like this: https://www.abebooks.com/first-edition/Enchanted-April-ELIZABETH-ARNIM-Doubleday-Page/8798168663/bd#&gid=1&pid=1

I was not able to find another public domain scan of either the cover or that particular painting.

3.png

1.png

2.png

Alex Cabal

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Jun 4, 2023, 11:39:14 PM6/4/23

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Vince can you manage this with Weijia reviewing?

On 6/4/23 8:15 PM, Jennifer Frye wrote:
> All right, I think I am largely done with the bulk of the work up until
> creating the cover image. Repository here:
> https://github.com/jennfrye/elizabeth-von-arnim_the-enchanted-april
> <https://github.com/jennfrye/elizabeth-von-arnim_the-enchanted-april>
>
> However, I've run into a formatting challenge with the three letters.
> I've formatted them according to the style guide, but the result is that
> they look a bit different than in the source scans. I know the style
> guide says that the rules can be bent when appropriate, but I'm not sure
> 1) to what extent the formatting should mirror the source, or 2) how to
> adjust the CSS. Attached are screenshots of the letters, with the ebook
> rendering on the left and the source scans on the right (I've since
> corrected the capitalization).
>
> Re: the cover image, the PG cover is definitely off color-wise when
> compared to other scans not in the public domain like this:

>
> I was not able to find another public domain scan of either the cover or
> that particular painting.
>
>
>
>
> On Monday, May 22, 2023 at 9:32:17 AM UTC-7 Alex Cabal wrote:
>
> Sure, that one would be a good start.
>
> You might be able to use the painting on the original cover for the
> cover art. But the scan at PG looks a little muddy. Maybe you can
> find a
> higher quality scan?
>
> 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>

>
> 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 5/20/23 9:19 PM, Jennifer Frye wrote:
> > Hi—I'd like to propose "The Enchanted April" by Elizabeth von
> Arnim as
> > my first project. It’s about 80,000 words and doesn’t have much
> unusual
> > formatting other than a handful of letters/newspaper clippings
> that will
> > need to be set as block quotes.
> >
> >
> > Project Gutenberg transcripts:
> https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16389
> <https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16389>
> > <https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16389
> <https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16389>>
> >
> > Book scans (from a 1923 manuscript):
> >

> >
> > --
> > 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 on the web visit
> >

>
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Vince

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Jun 4, 2023, 11:54:45 PM6/4/23

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Will do.

Alex Cabal

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Jun 5, 2023, 2:43:02 PM6/5/23

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Those are pretty basic letters, you can just use our formatting
boilerplate and don't worry about replicating the book style. In
particular, right-aligning some text in a left-aligned line is not even
possible in CSS anyway.

Re. cover, maybe you can crop the PG scan and run it through some
filters to see if it improves things. If not you can just find a
different cover. A painting of a garden shouldn't be too hard to come by.

On 6/4/23 8:15 PM, Jennifer Frye wrote:

> All right, I think I am largely done with the bulk of the work up until
> creating the cover image. Repository here:
> https://github.com/jennfrye/elizabeth-von-arnim_the-enchanted-april
> <https://github.com/jennfrye/elizabeth-von-arnim_the-enchanted-april>
>
> However, I've run into a formatting challenge with the three letters.
> I've formatted them according to the style guide, but the result is that
> they look a bit different than in the source scans. I know the style
> guide says that the rules can be bent when appropriate, but I'm not sure
> 1) to what extent the formatting should mirror the source, or 2) how to
> adjust the CSS. Attached are screenshots of the letters, with the ebook
> rendering on the left and the source scans on the right (I've since
> corrected the capitalization).
>
> Re: the cover image, the PG cover is definitely off color-wise when
> compared to other scans not in the public domain like this:

> <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>

> --
> 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 on the web visit

Jennifer Frye

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Jun 30, 2023, 5:52:14 PM6/30/23

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Sounds good! Should I remove the extra space before the footer?

I did some light editing of the Project Gutenberg cover image to remove the very yellow cast (see listing here for reference), and I think it looks nice. I tried two different crops:

Would either of these make acceptable covers? Again, source is PG: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/16389/pg16389-images.html

Alex Cabal

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Jun 30, 2023, 6:04:54 PM6/30/23

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I think that looks good. If the white border is part of the scan then
you should crop it out (it may just be an artifact of the SVG mockup,
hard to tell.) I would also run a slight blur filter on it, to try to
blur out the printing ink dots.

On 6/30/23 4:52 PM, Jennifer Frye wrote:
> Sounds good! Should I remove the extra space before the footer?
>
> I did some light editing of the Project Gutenberg cover image to remove
> the very yellow cast (see listing here

> <https://www.abebooks.com/first-edition/Enchanted-April-ELIZABETH-ARNIM-Doubleday-Page/8798168663/bd> for reference), and I think it looks nice. I tried two different crops:
>
> cover 1.jpgcover 2.jpg

> >
> > I was not able to find another public domain scan of either the
> cover or
> > that particular painting.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Monday, May 22, 2023 at 9:32:17 AM UTC-7 Alex Cabal wrote:
> >
> > Sure, that one would be a good start.
> >
> > You might be able to use the painting on the original cover for the
> > cover art. But the scan at PG looks a little muddy. Maybe you can
> > find a
> > higher quality scan?
> >
> > 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
> <https://standardebooks.org/manual/latest/4-semantics>>
> >
> >

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

> > >
> > > --
> > > 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 on the web visit
> > >
> >

Jennifer Frye

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Jun 30, 2023, 6:21:35 PM6/30/23

to Standard Ebooks

I think what you're interpreting as printing ink dots are actually the texture of the canvas showing through. (The white is just from me screen snipping the svg file, I couldn't figure out how to turn it into a jpg.) Here it is with a little bit of blur, which is definitely softer:

Vince

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Jun 30, 2023, 6:27:06 PM6/30/23

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Alex, is that OK to use just because it’s on PG? I knew the text obviously, but I didn’t know that was sufficient for any cover art they include with it. I might go back and change Trent’s Last Case if that’s the … case. I couldn’t find any independent verification of that cover (i.e. on an edition where I could see the publication date), but if the fact it’s on PG is enough, then I’ll use it.

Jennifer, no, our standard CSS for the footer should stay.

Alex Cabal

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Jun 30, 2023, 8:07:21 PM6/30/23

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Yes, anything on PG can be used as they clear the entire thing as PD,
including images.

Alex Cabal

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Jun 30, 2023, 8:11:02 PM6/30/23

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Let's go with the blur. Can you figure out who the artist is?

On 6/30/23 5:21 PM, Jennifer Frye wrote:
> I think what you're interpreting as printing ink dots are actually the
> texture of the canvas showing through. (The white is just from me screen
> snipping the svg file, I couldn't figure out how to turn it into a jpg.)
> Here it is with a little bit of blur, which is definitely softer:
>

> cover 2 blurred.jpg
>
> On Friday, June 30, 2023 at 3:04:54 PM UTC-7 Alex Cabal wrote:
>
> I think that looks good. If the white border is part of the scan then
> you should crop it out (it may just be an artifact of the SVG mockup,
> hard to tell.) I would also run a slight blur filter on it, to try to
> blur out the printing ink dots.
>
> On 6/30/23 4:52 PM, Jennifer Frye wrote:
> > Sounds good! Should I remove the extra space before the footer?
> >
> > I did some light editing of the Project Gutenberg cover image to
> remove
> > the very yellow cast (see listing here
> >

> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > 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 on the web visit
> > > >
> > >
> >

Jennifer Frye

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Jun 30, 2023, 9:27:07 PM6/30/23

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Was not able to find the artist. There is a signature in the lower-left corner, but all I can make out is H W—.

Alex Cabal

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Jun 30, 2023, 10:57:02 PM6/30/23

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OK. Just use anyonymous as the artist since it's illegible. See the
manual for formulas for the colophon/metadata.

On 6/30/23 8:27 PM, Jennifer Frye wrote:
> Was not able to find the artist. There is a signature in the lower-left

> corner, but all I can make out is /H W—./

>
> On Friday, June 30, 2023 at 5:11:02 PM UTC-7 Alex Cabal wrote:
>
> Let's go with the blur. Can you figure out who the artist is?
>
> On 6/30/23 5:21 PM, Jennifer Frye wrote:
> > I think what you're interpreting as printing ink dots are
> actually the
> > texture of the canvas showing through. (The white is just from me
> screen
> > snipping the svg file, I couldn't figure out how to turn it into
> a jpg.)
> > Here it is with a little bit of blur, which is definitely softer:
> >
> > cover 2 blurred.jpg
> >
> > On Friday, June 30, 2023 at 3:04:54 PM UTC-7 Alex Cabal wrote:
> >
> > I think that looks good. If the white border is part of the scan
> then
> > you should crop it out (it may just be an artifact of the SVG
> mockup,
> > hard to tell.) I would also run a slight blur filter on it, to
> try to
> > blur out the printing ink dots.
> >
> > On 6/30/23 4:52 PM, Jennifer Frye wrote:
> > > Sounds good! Should I remove the extra space before the footer?
> > >
> > > I did some light editing of the Project Gutenberg cover image to
> > remove
> > > the very yellow cast (see listing here
> > >
> >

> > > > >
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> > > > > Groups "Standard Ebooks" group.
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> > > > > <mailto:standardebook...@googlegroups.com>.
> > > > > To view this discussion on the web visit
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >

Jennifer Frye

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Jul 1, 2023, 12:35:43 AM7/1/23

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Done! (I think.) Ready for review: https://github.com/jennfrye/elizabeth-von-arnim_the-enchanted-april

Alex Cabal

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Jul 1, 2023, 12:45:52 AM7/1/23

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Weijia you're up for this one!

> > > > > >
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Weijia Cheng

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Jul 1, 2023, 9:12:31 AM7/1/23

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Ah, I missed the original email. I'll try to review today!

Weijia Cheng

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Jul 2, 2023, 10:09:27 AM7/2/23

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https://github.com/jennfrye/elizabeth-von-arnim_the-enchanted-april/issues/1

This looks very good, especially for a first production. Great attention to detail on fixing the transcription! I filed a couple of minor issues.

Weijia Cheng

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Jul 2, 2023, 10:00:48 PM7/2/23

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Ok Alex, this is ready for you: https://github.com/jennfrye/elizabeth-von-arnim_the-enchanted-april

Alex Cabal

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Jul 2, 2023, 10:46:58 PM7/2/23

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OK, great work Jennifer, and very good long description! I've gone ahead
and released it. Thanks!

If you'd like to work on another book that's slightly more advanced,
check out our Wanted list for moderate-difficulty productions. You can
also pitch something else to the list that might interest you, too.

On 7/2/23 9:00 PM, Weijia Cheng wrote:
> Ok Alex, this is ready for you:
> https://github.com/jennfrye/elizabeth-von-arnim_the-enchanted-april
>
> On Sunday, July 2, 2023 at 7:09:27 AM UTC-7 Weijia Cheng wrote:
>

> https://github.com/jennfrye/elizabeth-von-arnim_the-enchanted-april/issues/1 <https://github.com/jennfrye/elizabeth-von-arnim_the-enchanted-april/issues/1>

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Jennifer Frye

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Jul 2, 2023, 11:11:52 PM7/2/23

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Thank you, Alex! I would actually like to continue with more of von Arnim's work—I'll make a new post.

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