Literary Criticism
The American Language
"It was part of my daily work, for a good many years, to read the principal English newspapers and reviews; it has been part of my work…
English Literature
This book is not meant to be a History of English Literature, but an introduction for those who do not know much about it, or who may be thi…
Egyptian Tales
Egyptian stories translated from ancient, often incomplete, documents. - Summary by Timothy Ferguson
Robert Browning
There is an old anecdote, probably apocryphal, which describes how a feminine admirer wrote to Browning asking him for the meaning of one of…
To The Lighthouse
The Ramsey family, with house guests, visit the Isle of Skye at least twice. The plot is not at all the point though, as this is a book abou…
Joseph Conrad
This is a literary biography of Joseph Conrad (1857 – 1924) who is regarded as one of the greatest novelists in English. He was granted Brit…
Stage Land
Stage Land offers a humorous exploration of the eccentricities and peculiarities of theatrical life. Jerome K. Jerome invites listeners into…
On the Sublime
What makes a work of writing feel sublime? This ancient treatise on literary style considers how language can rise beyond the merely correct…
Emily Brontë
Emily Brontë (1818-1848) is best known for her only novel, "Wuthering Heights." She was born in Yorkshire, northern England, …
The Writing of Fiction
Edith Wharton, a successful author of fiction herself, gives us some in-depth analysis of the writing of short stories and novels. Then she …
Prejudices
Mencken sharpens his pen and in a collection of short essays delivers acerbic opinions on issues and persons of the time. Among his targets…
Shakespeare Identified
That one who is not a recognized authority or an expert in literature should attempt the solution of a problem which has so far baffled spec…
The Ordeal of Mark Twain
The Ordeal of Mark Twain analyzes the literary progression of Samuel L. Clemens and attributes shortcomings to Clemens' mother and wife. The…
Bunyan Characters
Bunyan Characters by Alexander Whyte delves into the rich tapestry of characters from John Bunyan's renowned works, particularly focusing on…
Modern Russian Literature
Prince D.S. Mirsky was a prominent Russian literary historian who spent several years in emigration, teaching at the University of London. T…
Supernatural Horror in Literature
In this essay Lovecraft traces the history of hair-raising fictional stories with a focus on things that go bump in the night, starting with…
The Defense of Poesy
Sidney envisions the world as an ideally ordered structure that rewards good and punishes evil, but this order, vitiated by sin, has fallen …
The Novels of Jane Austen
An 1859 essay by the prominent philosopher and literary critic, G. H. Lewes, who was an enthusiastic promoter of the novels of Jane Austen a…
Essays on Paul Bourget
In this engaging collection, Mark Twain offers his sharp wit and keen observations on the works and ideas of French novelist and critic Paul…
Greek Literature
"The Greeks were the most intellectual people of the old world. … The study of Greek literature is therefore a proper element in a libe…