English Classics Books

This is a great place to start for anybody interested in the influence of alchemical symbolism on english literature. The alchemists (and especially those who produced alchemical texts) did all kinds of strange, obscure, difficult, puzzling, and therefore fascinating things with language. This fact was not lost on the many important literary figures who never got their hands dirty but found alchemy useful as a theme or symbol in their work, and as this book demonstrates they had many good reasons to take an interest. So will you. Alchemy has been too long neglected as a key element in the religious life of the renaissance and after, and the texts of literary authors dealing with alchemy are an important source for our understanding of this--which still has yet to be fully researched and explained. This book is an important first step, and hopefully will inspire many future studies.

Occultists and spiritual alchemists with an interest in literature and the history of alchemy will find much of value here, although it does not speak to the post-19th century occultist reading of alchemy as much as the renaissance and medieval tradition.

Linden is probably one of the few serious scholars to have taken into consideration the importance of the use of alchemical registers in various central works of late medieval and early modern English literature. Together with an impressive knowledge of the fundamental and less known works of sixteenth century English alchemy, Linden provides his readers with a fisheye view on the idiosyncratic uses authors like Chaucer, Donne, Herbert and others, have made of basic alchemic concepts. The text is important for those scholars and amateurs of the field who still think that alchemy occupies a central position in the "languages", in Pocock's words, spoken in Early Modern England. A work of admirable seriousness and impressive documentation.

Even if you speak French, this book is an indispensible source on the great, 20th. century poet Henri Michaux. One of the important things that David Ball establishes is the chronology of Michaux's publishings. Michaux often published a string of small books between major collections - the major books overlapping, partially containing and redacting the earlier books in a highly complex and confusing way. In some cases, the larger work even duplicates the title of a smaller work. Ball untangles this gnarly time-line once and for all.

This is the most extensive selection in English from all phases of Michaux's long poetic career. It includes excerpts from his prose works - the travel writings and the mescalin writings, although nothing was taken from A Barbarian in Asia and Miserable Miracle. There are some plates that provide a view of Michaux's often superb graphic art.

The translations stand up pretty well against Richard Ellman's in Selected Writings (also highly recommended); however, this is a much larger work. Ball is perhaps on the literal side as a translator, a respectable choice. Probably, the only way to translate a poet impeccably, is to have a team of accomplished poets working in direct collaboration with the living poet who also speaks the second language well. And, of course, that's not the case, here. As far as I know, among major 20th. century poets translated into English, only Jorge Luis Borges was tranlated in this arcadian manner. That said, there's nothing wrong with these translations, except that David Ball, though possessed of a good ear, is not himself a poet, or trying to use a translation of a poem as an occasion to write another poem. Again, this is a respectable choice. In a sense Michaux is easy to translate. His language, though highly individual, is clear and direct (except when he's creating his bombastic new words). It's this language and conscience (John Ashberry's critical insight) in service in service to a deep and powerful visionary faculty, that makes Michaux one of the truly great poets of the 20th. century.

This early 20th century psychonaut is the latest embodiment of the Poet Maudit, intuitively following the program set out by Baudelaire and brilliantly brought to fruition by Rimbaud and Lautreamont and added to substantially by the surrealists. It is, however, Michaux's connection to the author of Maldoror that draws me to him, and as in Ducassean texts, Michaux's writings reveal numinous monsters aplenty, strange landscapes, psychic flora and fauna that are noted, illuminated from all sides, catalogued in precise detail. A selection of the art is given as well. These are good to excellent translations, as noted in the previous review. The selection and chronology makes this book stand out over the New Directions standard that we've long depended on for our picture of Michaux.

William Farina covers all of Shakespeare's generally acknowledged plays (except The Two Noble Kinsmen), as well as his two major narrative poems and the Sonnets, in this extensively researched, consistently illuminating book. He draws innumerable connections between Edward de Vere and the source materials of Shakespeare's works, and shows the clear parallels between de Vere's life and the lives of Shakespeare's most autobiographical protagonists.

Although I've read most of the principal Oxfordian works, I still found myself learning something new on almost every page. The author has synthesized a vast amount of material in a brisk, readable form. Discussion of each play is more or less self-contained, allowing one to read the book selectively.

Naturally, even Oxfordian readers will take issue with some of Farina's interpretations. I disagree with his analysis of the Sonnets, for instance. To me, a more compelling theory is the one put forward in Hank Whittemore's recently published book, The Monument (which also has implications for Venus and Adonis). But this is a quibble.

Overall, De Vere as Shakespeare is an excellent resource, recommended for anyone interested in the authorship question.

I had the pleasure of meeting the author on September 18, 2006 at Davis Kidd in Memphis. Although I have not read the book yet, I know it will be intellectual treat.
I have been a Shakespeare lover for years but never really gave too much concern as to his true identity. Now that I have met the author and had a chance to hear what he thought of the whole matter, I will admit that it does deserve some looking into.
I know that there are people out there who could care less about Shakespeare's true identity (we have his work, isn't that enough?) Their point is valid but still the revealing of the Bard's true identity would give us more of an insight into the mind of a literary genius.

I was very satisfied to be hammered by nailbiting Koontz stuff...thrilled and excited to experince this new feature which I now regard as one of my best top 10 books - Thank you Mr Koontz

I was very satisfied to hammered by nailbiting Koontz stuff...thrilled and excited to experince this new feature which I now regard as one of my best top 10 books - Thank you Mr Koontz

Maeve Binchy is a great writer - makes the reader feel part of the story.
This book is another winner!

I don't know when I have read a play last..probably in high school. Deeply Regreted is a true Maeve Binchy classic. Binchy is a master of taking glimpses of daily life and immersing the reader. If you are a Binchy fan, please give this a read. You will not "deeply regret" it.

Kessler's translations of these French stories are an invaluable treasure to the English speaking community. Many of these stories have never been translated or were out of print for many, many years. Kessler gives them new life in this collection that will appease both francophiles and lovers of spooky stories.

I was lucky enough to read this book in a class on 19th Century French Lit. taught by Joan Kessler herself. I have never forgotten these stories or the depth of psychological exploration each presents. This amazing book brings the genre of 19th French Macabre to non-French readers for the first time. Each story is truly classic, all at once an original and the obvious predecessor of horror and psychological thrillers as we know them today. Fans of Poe will love this book, and fans of King will be delighted by these twisted tales, though they may need to keep a dictionary handy.

Ms. Kessler's notes are the perfect guide through each work. She places each story in it's own history, giving ample insight into the mindset of the authors and their audiences.

From beginning to end this book will keep your heart pumping. It is the perfect read for those who have a hard time finding great work. It will keep you up at night, if not out of interest, then out of terror.

Sherwonit has put together an excellent collection of stories of cultural and natural history in this book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and would HIGHLY reccommend this book to anyone planning to visit the area. I can't wait to visit Denali National Park and know that I will feel more closely connected to the park and all of its wonder after hearing some of the stories it has to tell.

This collection stands out among many as a great resource for any traveler wanting to learn about Alaska from people (historical and modern) who experienced it firsthand. It's especially strong in presenting the classics of history, natural history and adventure travel: excerpts from the early explorers and mountaineers, descriptions of wildlife from Denali pioneers Adolph Murie and Charles Sheldon, and even some Native sacred stories. Those excerpts make Sherwonit's book a classic Alaska bookshelf sandwiched between the soft covers of a single book. Additionally, this anthology includes modern accounts by thoughtful writers and pioneers: a great essay on moose by Sherry Simpson, an account of the life of a grizzly cub observed by a ranger Rick McIntyre, and more. As an Alaskan and guidebook writer I've used this book often for my own research, as well as for my reading pleasure. Sherwonit has done readers a great service by collecting these 23 essays and excerpts, many of which are otherwise hard to track down. They make a great addition to a serious traveler's library -- but they're portable enough to pack for plane, ferry and tent.

This is the best edition of Samuel Pepy's Diary and is hugely enjoyable to read. It takes you into the world of a 17th century yuppie par excellance with all his faults and virtues. The scholarship is first rate, meticulous and rigorous and the footnotes add enormously to the interest of the diary. The introductory essays are also first rate and I want the whole set of all 12 volumes!

Samuel Pepys must certainly be the most candid of diarists, and the most aware of his time and place. He makes no effort to hide his flaws, nor his accomplishments. We learn about court intrigue, food, household management, plays, the foibles of kings, taverns, music, the navy, architecture, preachers, marriage, family relationships...the man was open to the world around him in an unbelievable way, and conveys it all with zest. It is absolutely enthralling.

Fred Levit's book is far and away the most helpful and complete Dickens glossary I've been able to find anywhere. I work with high school students who read at various points A Christmas Carol, Great Expectations and David Copperfield. Dickens's vocabulary is one of the most extensive of any author's, and it isn't hard for a student to wind up with at best a foggy idea of what's going on at key points, and at worst in a state of total bewilderment, slogging blindly through the swamp. Earlier dictionaries and glossaries we found ranged from completely unhelpful to mildly helpful. With this impeccably researched glossary as a guide, students are now able to navigate the material with a far greater degree of certainty, not to mention a tremendously enhanced appreciation for the richness of the language. I thought I was fairly knowledgeable on the subject myself until I started cross-checking some of my earlier assumptions. My own love for Dickens increased correspondingly. The book gets an A+. No reader of Dickens should be without it.

A glossary that's fun to read. Contains words and expressions that I've not been able to find in any dictionary. Makes reading Dickens an even greater pleasure!

Excellent for international students or common students looking for ways to improve their English... with expressions such as neck-to-neck or sell down the river you can become an effective communicator by using this phrases that convey a lot of meaning...

I recommend it strongly.

This book is worth a million for those interested in the English language. Browse through it an you will have a lot of fun and by the way learn a nice lot about how to use English more efficient.