[BobC]

Originally Posted by AlexBell

Thanks for all your other comments. But I'm afraid I don't agree with the above part of your response. There are no chapters in Cousin Pons. The Project Gutenberg version opens with the first line, and one can read to the end of the book without starting a new file. I've opened it up, and there are several HTML files within it.

What are you using to read the Gutenberg version with ? I have a copy and whatever viewer I use I get a new display page when I move between individual HTML files within the EPUB.

So, for instance

Well, I myself believe that there is an intelligence in works of art; they know art-lovers, they call to them—‘Cht-tt!’”

which is at the end of the first html file (OEBPS/@public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@1856@1856-h@1856-h-0.htm.html) is on one page then

Mme. de Marville shrugged her shoulders and looked at her daughter; Pons did not notice the rapid pantomime.

which is at the beginning of the next HTML file (OEBPS/@public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@1856@1856-h@1856-h-1.htm.html)starts on a new display page.

Of course it is possible that by happenstance depending on the font used and the other display settings on your device the end of one HTML file corresponds with the end of a display page, giving the illusion of continuity between the separate HTML files that make up the EPUB, however what is certain is that each HTML file will start to be displayed on a new page - that is the nature of the viewer and nothing to do with the OPF which will, amongst other things control the order in which the HTML files follow each other for display..

Are you aware that there is a copy of Cousin Pons at Archive.org - this is in the form of an image of the book and as you say it is just one long text without any obvious scene changes or chapters. I've used the DJVU versions of Archive.org texts previously when proofreading; the hidden text layer can be useful for locating where certain words occurs so you can examine the original image of the page.

BobC