AS part of their objective to boost learners’ comprehension, the Iloilo Provincial Library and Archives listed down some worthwhile reading materials from a free public domain in time for Halloween.

Provincial Librarian Allana Delgado recommended some books that they got from Project Gutenberg.

Delgado said not many people are aware that these books can be downloaded for free, like the works of Edgar Allan Poe and popular authors whose works have inspired a lot of movies, a lot of other stories.

She explained that the copyright of books in the free public domain has already expired, so they can be downloaded for free.

“As a reader, I was also excited to share. During this time, a lot of people probably are watching horror movies, so they might be interested in looking for something to read. So, I thought it was the perfect time to share it, especially since there are a lot of very good classic books that are available now online,” Delgado said.

They also recommended At the Mountains of Madness by HP Lovecraft, a novella blending science fiction and horror, written in the early 20th century; The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, a novel written during the late 19th century; The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven Edition by Edgar Allan Poe, a comprehensive collection of his literary output, likely compiled in the late 19th century; Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, first published in 1818; Wuthering Heights, a famous novel by Emily Brontë, published in 1847; and Dracula 1897, a gothic horror novel by Bram Stoker.

“Some of these are fantasy, some are horror classics that have influenced a lot of books and other stories. But I have also included Wuthering Heights, a romance novel with elements of a ghost story because there is a ghost in the story,” she said.

It was learned that Project Gutenberg is one of the oldest online libraries, hosting free books.