Classic Books

In the earlier chapters the dramatis personae and the incidents must naturally group themselves about the figure of my father; for it was thus that I saw them. To his boy he was the fountain of love, honor, and energy; and to the boy he seemed the animating or organizing principle of other persons and events. With his death, in my eighteenth year, the world appeared disordered for a season; then, gradually, I learned to do my own orientation.

“The present selection of Hazlitt’s critical essays has been planned to serve two important purposes. In the first place it provides the materials for an estimate of the character and scope of Hazlitt’s contributions to criticism and so acquaints students with one of the greatest of English critics. and in the second place, what is perhaps more important, such a selection, embodying a series of appreciations of the great English writers, should prove helpful in the college teaching of literature. There is no great critic who by his readableness and comprehensiveness is as well qualified as Hazlitt to aid in bringing home to students the power and the beauty of the essential things in literature. There is, in him a splendid stimulating energy which has not yet been sufficiently utilized.” -Preface

First published in the year 1816, the present novel ‘Headlong Hall’ by Thomas Love Peacock was his first long work of fiction. In this novel Peacock assembles a group of eccentrics, each with a single monomaniacal obsession, and derives humor and social satire from their various interactions and conversations.

Whether you are the perfect embodiment of a business man or the ideal disciple of a certain profession, you cannot possibly reach the highest or even most lucrative grades of your calling without health, happiness, and their logical consequence, longevity. They will prove trusty lieutenants. Without them the battle of life will draw to a close in retreat and end in defeat.

In a word, the War has proved a revival of appreciation of the place of the human will in life. Marshal Foch, the greatest character of the War, did not hesitate even to declare that “A battle is the struggle of two wills. It is never lost until defeat is accepted. They only are vanquished who confess themselves to be.”

The injunction “Know thyself” was inscribed in letters of gold over the portico of the temple of Delphi. We can know ourselves only by thoughtful observation and reflection. General forms of exercise may be presented, but we must consider whether our present health and physical condition will not require some modification of the prescribed forms. Certain modes of bathing and specific rules for diet and sleep may be good for the multitude and yet unsuited to particular individuals. Any marked change from our accustomed manner of life should begin gradually. For one who, in winter, has never taken any other than a warm or tepid bath, to plunge suddenly and without preparation into a tub of cold water might be attended with serious results, while by gradual stages the same point may be reached with positive advantage to health and comfort.

Among the many good and wise things said by the great Lincoln was this: “Give me the boy with promise of the man in him, and give me the man with the memory of the boy in him, and both can sit at my table, and if they sit together, we’ll have all the better time!”
This book of out-door games for boys will make better boys, and they’ll get a lot more joy out of life and be the better men in time, for having read it and carried out its rules as to wholesome, honest sport.
The boy who plays an honest game will do an honest business, and he’ll win over “the sneak.”
If you are “a grown-up,” read this book, and in doing so live over again the joyous, gladsome days of your boyhood, and you will sigh, as we do while writing this: “Would I were a boy again!”
We want the mother, as well as the father, to read this book, for it will recall the brothers of far-off days, and bring her into closer sympathy—we must not say “love,” for that is already strong enough —with the exuberance of her boys.
And the girls? Why, bless you! They, too, should read every scrap of this book, for they will find in it many of their own games, and not one that they could not play and enjoy, if circumstances permitted.
And the grand-parents? God bless them! Why, they’ll enjoy it quite as much as the young folks.

The most eminent physicians dwell particularly upon the necessity there is for young ladies, as they advance towards womanhood, to take active and regular exercise; and to avoid, as much as possible, all sedentary amusements. That love of variety, however, so natural to the human mind, and which is particularly observable in children, renders it a matter of some difficulty to diversify their sports, so as to discover a sufficient number of games that require exertion: we, however, flatter ourselves that this has been accomplished, in the little Work here presented to the reader in an English dress. They will find in it instructions for playing at a great number of games, of such a nature that they cannot fail of being conducive to their health; and which, while they afford an innocent relaxation from study, will be eminently useful in forming that easy and graceful carriage, which can only result from the free and active motion of the limbs, necessarily produced by frequently playing at these games.

This story collection, includes “Hearts and Crosses,” “The Princess and the Puma,” “Christmas by Injunction,” and many more. This is a fantastic collection of western-themed stories, many feature the man’s signature surprise endings. There are tales of cowpunchers, desperados and ranchers in love. Most explore happy times, though death and sorrow do pay an infrequent visit.

Excerpt from HeartSongs:
If I could speak in phrases fine,
Full sweet the words that I would say
To woo you for my valentine
Upon this February day.
But when I strive to tell you all,
The charms I see in your dear face,
A dumbness on me seems to fall—
O, sweetheart, let me crave your grace!

Hedda Gabler’ is a Danish play written by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. It was first published in the year 1907. It is recognized as a classic of realism, nineteenth century theatre, and world drama. The title character, Hedda, is considered one of the great dramatic roles in theatre. Hedda’s married name is Hedda Tesman; Gabler is her maiden name. Ibsen delibrately titles the work with both of her names to make the audiences perceive Hedda as daughter of her father than wife of her husband. It gave an impact to her individuality.

Heidi is a work of children’s fiction by Johanna Spyri. How she used what she learned. It is a novel about the events in the life of a young girl in her grandfather’s care, in the Swiss Alps. It was written as a book “for children and those who love children”. Heidi is one of the best-selling books ever written and is among the best-known works of Swiss literature.

First published in the year 1898, the present book ‘Helbeck of Bannisdale — Volume I’ is the first volume of Mrs. Humphry Ward’s fictional novel. It was one of her five bestselling novels.

First published in the year 1837, the present novel ‘Henrietta Temple: A Love Story’ was written by Benjamin Disraeli, who was a British politician to serve twice as the Prime Minister and also became the Earl of Beaconsfield.

This is written from memory, unfortunately. If I could have brought with me the material I so carefully prepared, this would be a very different story. Whole books full of notes, carefully copied records, firsthand descriptions, and the pictures—that’s the worst loss. We had some bird’s-eyes of the cities and parks; a lot of lovely views of streets, of buildings, outside and in, and some of those gorgeous gardens, and, most important of all, of the women themselves.

The story of the career of Hernando Cortes during his conquest of Mexico is a story of extraordinary courage, undaunted resolution, and hideous cruelty.

This volume contains the text of the stories, with explanatory notes and questions intended to stimulate study. Each lesson consists of a complete story arranged in such a way as to impress the main features of the narrative clearly upon the student’s mind. The explanatory material is reduced to the minimum, since the main desire is to let the stories speak for themselves and not to burden the student with wearisome details. The three reviews divide the course into the three natural parts, the first extending to Christmas, the second to the end of March, the third, which is shorter, to the middle of June, when it is usually wise for the regular courses to end.

Mary Rosetta Parkman’s present book ‘Heroines of Service’ is a compiled account of some important women in europe first published in the year 1921. “The service of the true woman is always “womanly.” She gives something of the fostering care of the mother, whether it be as nurse, like Clara Barton; as teacher, like Maryix Lyon and Alice Freeman Palmer; or as social helper, like Jane Addams. So it is that the service of these “heroines” is that which only women could have given to the world.” -Preface

First collected and published in the year 1914, ‘Hesiod, the Homeric Hymns, and Homerica’ is a collection of translated ancient Greek writings that are attributed to Hesiod, Homer, and others whose style emulates the two. these writing were translated by Hugh G. Evelyn-White.

High Adventure: A Narrative of Air Fighting in France’ was written by James Norman Hall. One might find this book, although an exciting narrative, has an unpolished feel because it was published in June of 1918 while Mr. Hall was a captive in a German POW camp. When he was captured behind enemy lines, the book was still a work in progress.

The plan of “Higher Lessons” will perhaps be better understood if we first speak of two classes of text-books with which this work is brought into competition.
—from this book

It was dusk of an April day, and Fifth Avenue was crowded. A young man, who had emerged from a large hotel, stood in the stream of traffic and gazed irresolutely up and down the thoroughfare. He wore a long, cheap rain-coat, and his head was covered by a steamer-cap of an old design, with two flaps tied in a knot across the top, behind which an overabundant crop of dull black hair pushed forth.

The present work gives the historical account of many important historical characters from the time of Queen Anne’s Reign. This books sheds light on the character of – Princess Anne, herself, the Queen and the Dutchess, authors of ‘Gulliver’ and of ‘Robinson Crusoe’, and Addison (the Humorist). This books was written by Margaret Oliphant, and was duly published in 1893.

First published in the year 1817, the present book ‘History of a Six Weeks’ Tour’ by English Romantic authors Mary Shelley and Percy Bysshe Shelley is a travel narrative. It describes two trips taken by Mary, Percy, and Mary’s stepsister, Claire Clairmont: one across Europe in 1814, and one to Lake Geneva in 1816. Divided into three sections, the text consists of a journal, four letters, and Percy Shelley’s poem “Mont Blanc”.

An attempt has been made in these pages to trace the evolution of intellectual thought in the progress of astronomical discovery, and, by recognising the different points of view of the different ages, to give due credit even to the ancients. No one can expect, in a history of astronomy of limited size, to find a treatise on “practical” or on “theoretical astronomy,” nor a complete “descriptive astronomy,” and still less a book on “speculative astronomy.” Something of each of these is essential, however, for tracing the progress of thought and knowledge which it is the object of this History to describe.