How to cite a Project Gutenberg book in Chicago Style?
Answer
This question has been updated to the 18th edition of Chicago Style. If you are using 17th edition, see this Library Handout, Purdue OWL, or contact a librarian.
Chicago Style* recommends citing a Project Gutenberg book as follows:
Footnotes:
1. Author First Name Author Last Name, Title of Book (Original Publication Date; Project Gutenberg, Publication Date), chapter number or page numbers, URL.
1. Franz Kafka, The Metamorphosis (1915; Project Gutenberg, August 8, 2008), chap. 3, https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26298.
Bibliography:
Author Last Name, Author First Name. Title of Book. Original Publication Date; Project Gutenberg, Publication Date. URL.
Kafka, Franz. The Metamorphosis. 1915; Project Gutenberg, August 8, 2008. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26298.
Chicago no longer requires a publication location for books published from 1900 onwards; however, for books published before 1900 you should include the publication location before the original publication date, followed by a comma.
For example: London, 1875; Project Gutenberg, June 5, 2025.
*Chicago recommends using a Google Books/Hathitrust version over Project Gutenberg books as books found through Google Books or Hathitrust are considered more authoritative copies of the book and have page numbers that more accurately direct a reader to information.
If you need further help, contact a librarian.