Editorial Standards
Purpose of the catalogue
The HICDE Public Domain Literature Library aims to make historical and literary public-domain texts more accessible by providing editorial reading notes and thematic organisation. The catalogue is designed for readers who wish to explore works in context, with guidance on content, style, and connections between titles.
Scope and selection
The catalogue includes 94 books, all drawn from Project Gutenberg’s public-domain collection. Selection prioritises works with documentary, historical, or narrative value, particularly firsthand accounts of war and social change. No contemporary or copyrighted works are included.
Source attribution
Every book record explicitly credits Project Gutenberg as the source. The catalogue does not host or reproduce full texts but links to them. Users are directed to Project Gutenberg for downloading or reading.
Bibliographic records
Each record contains the title, author(s), publisher (always Project Gutenberg), keywords from the original source, a target-reader field, and a catalogue note. The catalogue note is an editorial summary written by George Smith, Bibliographic Consultant, and is not a substitute for reading the work.
Category assignment
Books are assigned to one of two categories based on thematic emphasis. Categories are broad and intended as navigation aids; they are not definitive literary classifications. Some books could reasonably fit in both categories; the assignment reflects a primary focus.
Editorial reading context
Catalogue notes are written by George Smith, who has no formal qualifications in librarianship or academic history. The notes are based on a reading of each work and may reflect personal interpretation. They are intended to inform, not to critique.
Edition facts and text measurements
No edition facts (e.g., page counts, word counts, first publication dates) are supplied unless present in the Project Gutenberg metadata. The catalogue does not verify textual accuracy or completeness.
Recommendations and related works
Within category guides, three books are recommended with a stated reason. These recommendations are based on the editor’s judgment and are not exhaustive. Related works may be mentioned in catalogue notes but are not systematically linked.
Corrections and reader reports
Readers may report errors or suggest improvements via the contact page. The editor reviews submissions and may update catalogue notes accordingly. No formal peer review process exists.
Public-domain limitations
All works are in the public domain in the United States and most other countries. Users are responsible for verifying public-domain status in their jurisdiction. The catalogue does not guarantee copyright status worldwide.
Accessibility and readable presentation
The catalogue is designed for plain HTML viewing, with semantic structure and minimal styling. No images, scripts, or tables are used. Efforts are made to ensure text is clear and readable on various devices.
Independence and editorial responsibility
The catalogue is independently maintained by George Smith, who is not affiliated with any academic institution, publisher, or government body. Editorial decisions are made solely by him. No advertising or sponsorship influences content.
What the catalogue does not claim
The catalogue does not claim peer review, legal certification, university affiliation, professional librarian credentials, or guaranteed copyright status. It does not claim that every book was manually read in full. It does not use AI-generated content, SEO techniques, or promotional language.
Ongoing maintenance
The catalogue is updated periodically as new public-domain works are added or as catalogue notes are revised. There is no fixed publication schedule. Users may check the about page for general information.