e-Book Requests and Begging (Public Domain Books Only!)

[MickeyC]

I'd like to reread Under the Volcano which I originally read back in the mid-808s. Author is Malcolm Lowry who wrote it in 1947. Don't know if that qualifies for public domain or not.

Can't find it in the Sony Store or any others.

[Jellby]

Originally Posted by cassidym

I'd like to reread Under the Volcano which I originally read back in the mid-808s. Author is Malcolm Lowry who wrote it in 1947. Don't know if that qualifies for public domain or not.

According to Wikipedia, he died in 1957, that makes his works public domain in Canada since 2008.

[Anne Marie]

I live in Belgium and registered my PRS600 in Dutch. Now it seems I cannot buy books from the American Reader Store only from bol.com which has less books at a much higher price. Anyone can help?

[MickeyC]

Anne, in order to buy books from the Sony store, I understand you need either a US credit card or a Sony gift certificate. Members here can get gift certificates for you. Just post your request in the Sony forum or the Lounge.

I buy books for my Sony from Kobo which is based in Canada. Don't know if it would work but you might them. The link is http://www.kobobooks.com/

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by cassidym

I'd like to reread Under the Volcano which I originally read back in the mid-808s. Author is Malcolm Lowry who wrote it in 1947. Don't know if that qualifies for public domain or not.

Can't find it in the Sony Store or any others.

It's definitely NOT in the public domain in the US.

[MickeyC]

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's definitely NOT in the public domain in the US.

Thanks Harry. Since it's not in eBook format, I guess I'll just have to wait or, gulp, reread the pBook version.

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by cassidym

Thanks Harry. Since it's not in eBook format, I guess I'll just have to wait or, gulp, reread the pBook version.

you do realise you may have to undergo some form of therapy and re-training ?

[Bilbo1967]

I have found a free version of Bertrand Russell's 'History of Western Philosophy' but can't seem to work out what version would be best to convert to epub format. There is an epub version there, but it is just too poor to do much with I think (or maybe Sigil would work?).

Anyway, could somebody who is good at this kind of thing please take a look here and give me some pointers as to the best way to proceed to get a good conversion?

I have a Sony PRS-505 and have a preference for epub, but would be happy with lrf if that is an easier conversion, by the way.

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

Anyway, could somebody who is good at this kind of thing please take a look here and give me some pointers as to the best way to proceed to get a good conversion?

How badly do you want this?

The original up on Archive.org is a scan of the pbook. The other formats are all generated from scan and OCR, with all the mistakes OCR makes still there.

Your options appear to be download the PDF, OCR and do extensive editing/proofreading/formatting, then convert to ePub, or download one of the other versions and skip the OCR step.

In any case, you're looking at a fair bit of work to come up with something usable. Are you up for it?
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Dennis

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

How badly do you want this?

The original up on Archive.org is a scan of the pbook. The other formats are all generated from scan and OCR, with all the mistakes OCR makes still there.

Your options appear to be download the PDF, OCR and do extensive editing/proofreading/formatting, then convert to ePub, or download one of the other versions and skip the OCR step.

In any case, you're looking at a fair bit of work to come up with something usable. Are you up for it?
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Dennis

I think I'm prepared to give it a go - it is my favourite book after all.

Don't really fancy the OCR bit so I guess it'll be the second of your options above. Any (free) tools etc you would recommend?

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

I think I'm prepared to give it a go - it is my favourite book after all.

Don't really fancy the OCR bit so I guess it'll be the second of your options above. Any (free) tools etc you would recommend?

Offhand, grab the ePub version and have a go with Sigil, from http://code.google.com/p/sigil/

Once you have something you think you can live with, you might be able to use Calibre from http://calibre-ebook.com/ to convert to other formats as well.

Sigil and Calibre are both free, open source tools, and the authors are MR participants and there are support forums for them on MR.
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Dennis

[Bilbo1967]

I will give that a go then - it won't be quick, as I'll have the Sigil learning curve to get up. I'll look on it as a labour of love and a learning opportunity

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

I will give that a go then - it won't be quick, as I'll have the Sigil learning curve to get up. I'll look on it as a labour of love and a learning opportunity

It wouldn't be quick in any case, as copy-reeding/proofreading is a line by line affair. I assume you have a paper volume to proof from?

Meanwhile, Sigil here opens the ePub version and displays it, so fixup should be possible

I'll happily grab a copy of your finished product.
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Dennis

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

It wouldn't be quick in any case, as copy-reeding/proofreading is a line by line affair. I assume you have a paper volume to proof from?

Meanwhile, Sigil here opens the ePub version and displays it, so fixup should be possible

I'll happily grab a copy of your finished product.
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Dennis

Yes, I have a paper copy so that'll help.

Happy to provide a copy when complete - as I said though, don't hold your breath for it!

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

Yes, I have a paper copy so that'll help.

I thought you might, given your love for it.

Happy to provide a copy when complete - as I said though, don't hold your breath for it!

Urk! Turning blue! Need air!

<gasp> Oh, wait. He said not to hold my breath. Never mind...
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Dennis