Project Gutenberg
Why it's useful: Find digitized books that are in the public domain in the United States, with records and files in several formats.
First try: about 5 minutesCost: Free access
Best for
Readers looking for older literary and historical texts, especially when they want a downloadable or browser-readable edition.
A good first step
Search by author or title, open the book record, choose a reading format, and check the copyright note for the relevant country.
What to check
Public-domain status varies by country. Do not assume that a book free to access in one jurisdiction is free to reuse everywhere.
Access and pricing
The catalog provides free access to many public-domain books; verify the status and terms of the specific title.
bookshistoryliterature