[First Project] The Black Moth by Georgette Heyer

[Chloe]

I was hoping to contribute to this project by working on The Black Moth from your wanted list.

Transcript is on PG https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/38703

I found a scan for checks in the PD from Wikimedia, origin Dartmouth College Library. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:The_Black_Moth.pdf&page=2

I had a quick look at style guides and the code and it shouldn't be too bad. I have coding and Git experience, though not formally in XML/CSS.

Let me know.

[Alex Cabal]

Great, that one would be a good start.

This should be a pretty basic one. Nothing much for me to add.

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! :)

> --
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[Alex Cabal]

Please send a link to your repo. Thanks!

On 1/23/25 10:42 AM, 'Chloe' via Standard Ebooks wrote:
> Ok. Initial commit should have been submitted.

>
> On Sunday, January 12, 2025 at 10:29:51 PM UTC-5 Alex Cabal wrote:
>
> Great, that one would be a good start.
>
> This should be a pretty basic one. Nothing much for me to add.
>
> 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 1/11/25 4:27 PM, 'Chloe' via Standard Ebooks wrote:
> > I was hoping to contribute to this project by working on The
> Black Moth
> > from your wanted list.
> > Transcript is on PG https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/38703
> <https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/38703>
> >
> > I found a scan for checks in the PD from Wikimedia, origin Dartmouth
> > College Library.
> >

> https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:The_Black_Moth.pdf&page=2 <https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:The_Black_Moth.pdf&page=2>

> >
> > I had a quick look at style guides and the code and it shouldn't
> be too
> > bad. I have coding and Git experience, though not formally in
> XML/CSS.
> >
> > Let me know.
> >
> > --
> > 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/standardebooks/133ed4af-269c-4870-a81c-ed64faf8ee9en%40googlegroups.com <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/standardebooks/133ed4af-269c-4870-a81c-ed64faf8ee9en%40googlegroups.com> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/standardebooks/133ed4af-269c-4870-a81c-ed64faf8ee9en%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/standardebooks/133ed4af-269c-4870-a81c-ed64faf8ee9en%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>>.

>
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[Chloe]

Ok. First commit updated here: https://github.com/cakacz/georgette-heyer_the-black-moth

Sorry for the delay, git updated since the last time I used it.

On Sunday, January 12, 2025 at 10:29:51 PM UTC-5 Alex Cabal wrote:

[Alex Cabal]

OK, David will manage this with Emma reviewing.

On 1/23/25 11:47 AM, 'Chloe' via Standard Ebooks wrote:
> Ok. First commit updated here:
> https://github.com/cakacz/georgette-heyer_the-black-moth
> Sorry for the delay, git updated since the last time I used it.
>
> On Sunday, January 12, 2025 at 10:29:51 PM UTC-5 Alex Cabal wrote:
>
> Great, that one would be a good start.
>
> This should be a pretty basic one. Nothing much for me to add.
>
> 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 1/11/25 4:27 PM, 'Chloe' via Standard Ebooks wrote:
> > I was hoping to contribute to this project by working on The
> Black Moth
> > from your wanted list.
> > Transcript is on PG https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/38703
> <https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/38703>
> >
> > I found a scan for checks in the PD from Wikimedia, origin Dartmouth
> > College Library.
> >

> https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:The_Black_Moth.pdf&page=2 <https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:The_Black_Moth.pdf&page=2>

> >
> > I had a quick look at style guides and the code and it shouldn't
> be too
> > bad. I have coding and Git experience, though not formally in
> XML/CSS.
> >
> > Let me know.
> >
> > --
> > 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/standardebooks/133ed4af-269c-4870-a81c-ed64faf8ee9en%40googlegroups.com <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/standardebooks/133ed4af-269c-4870-a81c-ed64faf8ee9en%40googlegroups.com> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/standardebooks/133ed4af-269c-4870-a81c-ed64faf8ee9en%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/standardebooks/133ed4af-269c-4870-a81c-ed64faf8ee9en%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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> To view this discussion visit

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[Chloe]

Just a quick question re:chapter headings/titles. This one seems to be suited to something like the Wizard of Oz with a chapter number and then subtitle. Is using the same formatting as that a good use? I'm having trouble figuring out the proper semantics.

Thank you!

Current formatting:

<hgroup>
<h2 epub:type="ordinal z3998:roman">I</h2>
<p epub:type="title">At the Chequers Inn, Fallowfield</p>
</hgroup>

[David]

That looks exactly right for chapter headings of this type. I wouldn't have called this "subtitle", but simply "chapter number" with "chapter title". That's exactly right for those semantics.

David / Fife, UK

[Chloe]

Thanks. 

Sorry, additional question I couldn't quite clarify with the abbreviation typography info. There are a lot of titles used in the book.

The basic Mr. first last are simple, but is Miss treated the same as Mr. or Mrs? 
Additionally, do the rules change when followed by titles or things like ducal names, i.e. M le duc, Lady O'Hara, Sir Anthony Ferndale?

Finally, the type has chef italicized, apparently as a foreign word, should this be retained with the language tag or removed?

Cheers,

Chloe

[David Reimer]

"Miss" doesn't need any treatment since it is not an abbreviation.

"M. le duc" is all over the place in Baroness Orczy's books - It only
needs `<abbr>M.</abbr> le duc`, and here's an example:
https://github.com/standardebooks/baroness-orczy_lord-tonys-wife/blob/2c6c1e84167252b6474469836a4f47e7c16963f6/src/epub/text/chapter-1-4.xhtml#L20

"Lady" and "Sir" are not abbreviations.

If "chef" is not for emphasis (a link to context would help!), then it
should not have `<i>...</i>` wrappers, per
https://standardebooks.org/manual/1.8.2/single-page#8.2.9.4

Best to ask if you're not sure! But perhaps reading over some of those
sections in SEMoS would help, too.

David / Fife, UK

[Chloe]

I have finished the final proofread and just need to go through the potential issues I highlighted. I wanted to submit for consideration the cover art I think will work for the project. I have found The Garter by Jean François de Troy as part of the Met's Public Domain Open Access works, linked here.

Is this acceptable as cover art for the Black Moth?

Cheers,

Chloe

[David]

It's certainly acceptable in terms of PD (since it comes from an "approved museum/gallery"), and I've added it to the artworks database. It's very similar to one already in use, but they look sufficiently different so as not to be confusable (unlike, e.g., Monet's Houses of Parliament series)—I think!

It always helps to see the proposed mock-up showing the crop and the SE titlebox. Could you post that before the artwork gets assigned? Also, if you could say a word about how it fits in with *this* book, that's always a help.

Thanks!

[Chloe]

Dear David:

I have a proposed crop (see attached), is there an easy way to add the SE titlebox?

Cheers,

Chloe

[Chloe]

Regarding why I chose it, the outfits and makeup are period appropriate and I felt the rendering reflected the plot points of seduction and abduction.

Cheers,

Chloe

[David]

Re: mockup - Different producers have different approaches, but I COPY the `cover.svg` file out of git directory into some other "working" directory, then use Inkscape to "import" my cropped image (1400x2100), then "export" a JPG. (The "Cover image How-to" says export a PNG, for some reason. JPG will do!) (It also helps to have the League Spartan font on your system.)

Hope that helps!

[Chloe]

Dear David:

Thanks! Here is the cover mock-up.

Cheers,

Chloe

[David Reimer]

That looks great, Chloe - thanks! You might want to play with the crop
a bit before finalizing in your repo: perhaps a slightly tighter crop
on the couple would be more "dynamic"? Up to you, though. I've made
the assignment in the artworks DB.

[Chloe]

Dear David:

I have finished the project, and it is ready for review. I'm including the github link below. Sorry for the delays.

https://github.com/cakacz/georgette-heyer_the-black-moth

Cheers,

Chloe

[David]

Hi Chloe - that was an intrepid journey! It's Emma, in fact, who will be doing the review.

But it has been a long time since you began the project. It would help to know whether you have updated the SE toolset since you began? If not, it would be worth doing that (see "Step 1" in the Producing guide), and then re-run "se clean" and "se lint" to see if they pick up anything.

When you've done that (or if you're already up to date), could you pop in another note to let Emma know? Thanks!

[Chloe]

Dear David:

I've updated everything and it looks good except I'm getting a problem with se clean . and se lint . conflicting when it comes to the long description escaped html.

Currently, se clean . gives

<meta property="se:long-description">&lt;i&gt;The Black Moth&lt;/i&gt; focuses on Lord Jack Carstares, who has retreated from society and become a highwayman after taking the blame for cheating at cards years ago. He meets the heroine, Diana Beauleigh, when he rescues her from an attempted abduction by the Duke of Andover. The novel follows the three throughout their interactions and focuses on questions of love and honour. Published in 1921, &lt;i&gt;The Black Moth&lt;/i&gt; was the first published novel of &lt;a href="https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/georgette-heyer"&gt; Georgette Heyer&lt;/a&gt;, and marks her debut as one of the originators of the modern historical romance. Set in the Georgian period, the novel features many of the elements that are characteristic of Heyer’s work including action, romance, and aristocratic characters in a historical setting.</meta>

, which se lint . flags as an error for incorrect escaped html. 

Can you tell me how this should be resolved and then I can pass things on to Emma?

Cheers,
Chloe

[David]

Hmmm... Have you pushed that to your repo yet? It's hard to tell with only your copy/paste here to go on, which looks (at least to my eye) like it should be okay.

I do see in your repo, that even the "meta" tags have been "escaped", though. If this is what it looks like to you locally, then that would be the culprit. (Which is very strange, btw, I've never seen that before.) If that's not the problem, perhaps you could post a screenshot of your editor with the long description showing, and perhaps that would help us spot the issue.

On Sunday, 16 November 2025 at 16:52:28 UTC Chloe wrote:

Dear David:

[Chloe]

Dear David:

Ok. I've pushed without the meta tags being escaped and am still getting that error. Here's the screenshot in plain text editor and the error.

Cheers,

Chloe

[Alex Cabal]

Long description must be contained within one or more escaped <p> elements.

On 11/16/25 11:25 AM, 'Chloe' via Standard Ebooks wrote:
>
> Dear David:
> Ok. I've pushed without the meta tags being escaped and am still getting
> that error. Here's the screenshot in plain text editor and the error.
> Cheers,
> Chloe
>
> On Sunday, November 16, 2025 at 6:12:24 PM UTC+1 David wrote:
>
> Hmmm... Have you pushed that to your repo yet? It's hard to tell
> with only your copy/paste here to go on, which looks (at least to my
> eye) like it should be okay.
>
> I do see in your repo, that even the "meta" tags have been "escaped"

> <https://github.com/cakacz/georgette-heyer_the-black-moth/
> blob/7babca3303992b6c15ed19c6d5c43f04175c80a3/src/epub/
> content.opf#L48>, though. If this is what it looks like to you

> locally, then that would be the culprit. (Which is very strange,
> btw, I've never seen that before.) If that's not the problem,
> perhaps you could post a screenshot of your editor with the long
> description showing, and perhaps that would help us spot the issue.
>
> On Sunday, 16 November 2025 at 16:52:28 UTC Chloe wrote:
>
> Dear David:
>
> I've updated everything and it looks good except I'm getting a
> problem with se clean . and se lint . conflicting when it comes
> to the long description escaped html.
> Currently, se clean . gives
> <meta property="se:long-description">&lt;i&gt;The Black
> Moth&lt;/i&gt; focuses on Lord Jack Carstares, who has retreated
> from society and become a highwayman after taking the blame for
> cheating at cards years ago. He meets the heroine, Diana
> Beauleigh, when he rescues her from an attempted abduction by
> the Duke of Andover. The novel follows the three throughout
> their interactions and focuses on questions of love and honour.
> Published in 1921, &lt;i&gt;The Black Moth&lt;/i&gt; was the
> first published novel of &lt;a href="https://standardebooks.org/

> ebooks/georgette-heyer <https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/
> georgette-heyer>"&gt; Georgette Heyer&lt;/a&gt;, and marks her

> debut as one of the originators of the modern historical
> romance. Set in the Georgian period, the novel features many of
> the elements that are characteristic of Heyer’s work including
> action, romance, and aristocratic characters in a historical
> setting.</meta>
> , which se lint . flags as an error for incorrect escaped html.
> Can you tell me how this should be resolved and then I can pass
> things on to Emma?
> Cheers,
> Chloe
>
> On Sunday, November 16, 2025 at 5:17:03 PM UTC+1 David wrote:
>
> Hi Chloe - that was an intrepid journey! It's Emma, in fact,
> who will be doing the review.
>
> But it has been a long time since you began the project. It
> would help to know whether you have updated the SE toolset
> since you began? If not, it would be worth doing that (see

> "Step 1" in the Producing guide <https://standardebooks.org/
> contribute/producing-an-ebook-step-by-step#setup>), and then

> re-run "se clean" and "se lint" to see if they pick up anything.
>
> When you've done that (or if you're already up to date),
> could you pop in another note to let Emma know? Thanks!
>

> --
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> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/standardebooks/db68b4d8-7823-4e55-
> ab20-1ca0f94ef06fn%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.

[Chloe]

Dear all:

Ok everything has been pushed to the git repository and is ready for Emma to review. Thank you for the last minute help.

Cheers,
Chloe

[Emma Sweeney]

Great work! I filed some issues in the repository. Let me know if you have any questions or when you have finished making the changes.

Emma

[David]

Doh. With the message: "Long description must be an escaped XHTML fragment.", I had tunnel-vision, checking all the escapes were correct, and neglected to register the missing (escaped) `<p>...</p>` wrapper.

I wonder if m-016 could be split into two, to make for a more informative error message? (I think missing `p` tags have surfaced before.)

(Although I'm unlikely to miss this the next time - but could help producers?)