Other books that might interest you

• 

  Faust

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  A man's endless search for truth leads him into a dangerous bargain with the forces beyond human understanding.
  
  Faust is the masterpiece dramatic poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, widely considered one of the greatest works of European literature.
  
  The play follows Dr. Faust, a scholar who becomes dissatisfied with the limits of human knowledge and experience. Seeking deeper understanding and fulfillment, he makes a mysterious pact with Mephistopheles, a figure representing temptation and worldly desire.
  
  Through Faust's journey, Goethe explores profound themes of ambition, morality, love, power, knowledge, and the eternal struggle between human aspiration and human limitation.
  
  Combining philosophy, tragedy, mythology, and poetic brilliance, Faust remains a timeless exploration of what it means to be human.
  
  A cornerstone of world literature, this classic continues to inspire readers, writers, and thinkers across generations.

  Show book

• 

  Columbus - 19th century poem...

  James Russell Lowell

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  James Russell Lowell was born on 22nd February 1819 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 
  Lowell graduated from Harvard in 1838, and thence on to earn a law degree from Harvard Law School.  
  His literary life began in 1841 with his first published collection of poetry.  Three years later he married Maria White and they had several children although, sadly, only one was to survive childhood. 
  A consuming issue at the time was the abolition of slavery.  Lowell was a staunch supporter even going so far as to move to Philadelphia to edit an abolitionist newspaper.  His poems were fully in support of Emancipation and the ending of this terrible abomination.  His later views were milder and came in for some criticism.  
  His publication in 1848 of the long poem ‘A Fable for Critics’, satirising the poets and critics of the then current poetry scene caused an uproar.  That same year came ‘The Biglow Papers’, which increased his fame and his finances.  His use of the Yankee accent in his character’s dialogue was an inspiration for many. 
  Maria died in 1853 and Lowell decided to travel to Europe for some time before returning to Harvard to take up a professorship of languages.   In 1857 he re-married and also took on the editorship of that key periodical ‘The Atlantic Monthly’ whilst continuing to teach at Harvard. 
  Lowell wrote and published poetry and essay collections throughout his literary career and is acknowledged as one of the ‘Fireside Poets’, a group of New England poets that rivalled the popularity of British poets.  Their work was not controversial and suitable for whole families to enjoy hence their name and appeal.  Whilst Lowell’s own work does not now attract the same praise as his then contemporaries, he was their equal. 
  Towards the end of his life Lowell was appointed as ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain and later to the Court of St. James's.  
  His last years were a return home to his estate in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  By the summer of 1891 doctors had diagnosed cancer in his kidneys, liver and lungs.  There was nothing that they could do except prescribe opium for the pain. 
  James Russell Lowell died on the 12th of August 1891 on the Cambridge estate where he was also born.  He was 72.

  Show book

• 

  Mac Flecknoe

  John Dryden

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Mac Flecknoe is a satirical masterpiece by John Dryden, widely regarded as one of the greatest examples of literary mockery in English literature. Written in 1682, this brilliant poem humorously attacks the poet Thomas Shadwell, portraying him as the heir to the throne of dullness. Through sharp wit, clever wordplay, and biting irony, Dryden exposes Shadwell's literary shortcomings while demonstrating his own mastery of satire and poetic technique.
  
  The poem combines humor with pointed criticism, using the conventions of heroic verse to mock mediocrity and celebrate artistic excellence. Mac Flecknoe is not just a personal attack; it is a sophisticated commentary on the standards of taste, creativity, and intellectual rigor in Restoration literature. Readers encounter a parade of absurdities, over-the-top characterizations, and hilarious exaggerations, all designed to entertain while showcasing Dryden's formidable command of language.
  
  Whether you are a lover of classic literature, satire, or the history of English poetry, Mac Flecknoe offers a timeless glimpse into the art of mock-heroic writing and the literary rivalries of the 17th century. Its wit, style, and incisive commentary continue to resonate, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the power of satire to challenge mediocrity and celebrate talent.

  Show book

• 

  The Snow Storm

  Ralph Waldo Emerson

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  The storm arrives, unbidden yet unstoppable, sculpting the world in reckless white. The north wind, a faceless mason, works without plan or patience—bastions rise, wreaths drape, roads vanish. No symmetry, no restraint, only the wild hand of winter shaping chaos into fleeting grandeur.
  By dawn, the architect is gone. What remains is a frozen wonder, a masterpiece of whim and force, too perfect to last, too wild to be remade.

  Show book

• 

  Footprints

  James Ten Eyck

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Footprints are a collection of poems that were either written or revised recently or recalled from work begun and lost fifty years before. Some recall pleasant memories of my beloved Veronica and some of her later struggles with ill health. She was born and grew up in Dublin and Ireland remained a special place for both of us. The DART from Howth to Greystones "tunnels under Queen V's crown and pops out for the view above Killiney Bay" where "the magic face of Ireland is found." We met and married in Syracuse. Events and places from that time are featured in some of the poems. Newtown Plus Five was written shortly after news coverage of the fifth anniversary of the Sandy Hook school massacre. An Elegy for One and Many commemorates the life of a friend of the victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue rampage who died during the same period of time. Many of the poems are written in traditional verse forms and rhyme schemes. 
  A number of poems reflect concerns about America: the face it presents to the world and the state of its democracy. Ode from a Colonial Bowl recounts a family history of its founding. 
  Flint where "once-upon-a-time America coursed through (its) leaden arteries to nurse its middle class." In Vietnam "we've grown old, some fifty years removed from when our universe was rolled into a white-hot ball," to find the common threads we shared in youth to pursue our common legacy. American Graffiti asks, "Can Cicero and Caesar coexist within republican constraint?" 
  Let Freedom Ring calls upon us to answer "the distant bells of freedom pealing " in Ukraine. The challenge is to understand how both poems can be compatible in our logic.

  Show book

• 

  The Cowboy Trail - Excerpts from...

  SallyV Truss

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  A joyful blend of poetry, song and rant from SallyV Truss, who takes us on an epic journey along The Cowboy Trail  (HWY 22 - in Alberta). 
  "SallyV doesn't merely read her poetry, she embodies it, captivating the audience, and breathing life into the page." ~ Sarah L. Pratt, Literary Events Manager, Owl's Nest Books 
  Sally's captivating stories have an aesthetic appeal that makes you linger on the page enjoying each poem with unexpected leisure." ~ Jade O'Riley, poet, literary advocate 
  "The book HWY 22 is truly an Alberta tale, told in verse, including details like good boots being necessary, small towns, driving for what seems endless amounts of time across the prairies, and the ever-present mountains. Well worth the read." ~ Karen Lee, author, memoirist 
  "Sally V Truss, poet/lyricist, has come home to herself. Feel the music in her finely crafted, rhythmic words. Clever humour is tightly woven with wisdom as this immigrant girl finds her way past the tight ill-fitting shoes of her childhood to the boots that suit her. What a gift!" ~ Lana Skauge, author, master storyteller, educator

  Show book