Editorial Standards
Purpose of the catalogue
The AFUFO Public Domain Literature Library makes selected works of literature freely available with editorial context. The aim is to help readers understand each book's structure, themes, and historical place through brief notes prepared as supplementary catalogue material.
Scope and selection
The catalogue currently contains 94 works, drawn from Project Gutenberg. Selection prioritises English-language plays and poetic dramas from the classical Greek period through the early twentieth century, with a focus on works that reward close reading and comparison.
Source attribution
Every record identifies the publisher as Project Gutenberg. Where editions include translators, editors, or illustrators, those names are listed in the author field. The catalogue does not claim copyright over the texts themselves.
Bibliographic records
Each entry includes title, author (with lifespan), publisher, keywords from standard cataloguing, a target-reader statement, and a catalogue note. The notes are prepared as supplementary catalogue material and reflects a first-reading perspective, highlighting structural features, recurring imagery, or thematic tensions.
Category assignment
Works are grouped into four categories based on shared subject matter or approach. These groupings are navigational aids, not definitive literary judgments. A work may touch on multiple themes but appears in only one category for simplicity.
Editorial reading context
Catalogue notes are informed by a reading of the work, but not every book has been read in full by the catalogue project; some rely on established scholarship. Notes aim to be descriptive rather than evaluative, pointing out patterns without prescribing interpretations.
Edition facts and text measurements
Where relevant, the catalogue notes which edition or quarto is used (e.g., 1604 vs. 1616 quarto of Doctor Faustus). Text measurements such as number of acts or scene shifts are mentioned when they affect the reading experience.
Recommendations and related works
Within each category, three works are recommended for first reading. These are chosen to represent the range of the category. Internal links connect to other works by the same author or on similar themes.
Corrections and reader reports
Readers may report errors or suggest additions via the contact page. Submitted corrections may be used to update catalogue records. The catalogue does not guarantee immediate corrections but aims to maintain accuracy.
Public-domain limitations
All works are confirmed to be in the public domain under applicable law. The catalogue does not assert copyright over any text. Users should verify public-domain status in their own jurisdiction.
Accessibility and readable presentation
Pages use semantic HTML with headings, paragraphs, and lists. No images, scripts, or tables are employed. The design prioritises legibility and screen-reader compatibility without custom styling.
Independence and editorial responsibility
The catalogue is edited by AFUFO Catalogue, an independent the catalogue project. It has no affiliation with any university, publisher, or commercial entity. Editorial decisions are made solely by the catalogue project.
What the catalogue does not claim
The catalogue does not claim peer review, legal certification, or professional librarian credentials. It does not guarantee that every text is complete or free of errors. It does not represent itself as a scholarly edition in the academic sense.
Ongoing maintenance
The catalogue is periodically updated as new public-domain works become available or existing records are improved. the catalogue project may revise notes and categories in response to reader feedback or new research.