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A conversational text that addresses many philosophical concepts as well as Western religion by questioning good versus evil and the unnecessary suffering of innocent people. Anicius Boethius draws from his own experiences to illustrate these spiritual and ethical struggles. In The Consolation of Philosophy the author engages in a figurative discussion with Lady Philosophy, a type of teacher. Through their exchange, he poses serious questions regarding the existence of God and human nature. He also acknowledges his own dire circumstances, contemplating the hardships and trauma. Many counterpoints are tied to ideals such as the Wheel of Fortune, highlighting inconsistent and often unfair outcomes. He also focuses on the importance of intangible gifts such as love and intelligence. The Consolation of Philosophy is an honest analysis of the nature of happiness. It forces the reader to face hard truths about their wants versus needs. It's a sobering examination of the unpredictable structure of life.

Love's Labour's Lost (1596) is a comedy by William Shakespeare. The play was written to be performed for Queen Elizabeth at the Inns of Court, and has frequently been recognized for its length and complex wordplay. Although rarely staged up until the nineteenth century, Love's Labour's Lost has seen a resurgence over the last century, serving as source material for musicals, films, and television shows alike. "Beauty is bought by judgment of the eye, / Not utt'red by base sale of chapmen's tongues; / I am less proud to hear you tell my worth / Than you much willing to be counted wise." For his wit and wordplay alone, William Shakespeare is often considered the greatest writer to ever work in the English language. Where he truly triumphs, however, is in his ability to portray complex human emotions, how these emotions contribute to relationships, and how these relationships interact with politics, culture, and religion. King Ferdinand of Navarre takes an oath with his closest friends and advisors: for three years, they will commit to dietary moderation and intellectual enrichment, depriving themselves of the company of women. When the Princess of France arrives with her ladies on important business, she finds herself unable to get within a mile of court due to the King's strict order. One by one, the King and his men fall in love with the French women, though each is unwilling to admit it without first implicating his comrades. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of William Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

Daughters of Destiny (1906) is a novel by L. Frank Baum. Although he is more widely known as the author of the Land of Oz series, Baum also used several pseudonyms to make forays into more conventional fiction for adults. Daughters of Destiny, written under the pen name "Schuyler Staunton," is a story of corruption, political intrigue, romance, and adventure. "When the American Construction Syndicate, of New York and Chicago, conceived the idea of laying a railway across Baluchistan, through the Alexandrian Pass and so into the Lower Indies-thus connecting Asia and Europe by the shortest possible route-it was regarded as a bold undertaking even for this gigantic corporation." Despite the cost and difficulty of building a railroad across the mountainous desert landscape of Baluchistan, the American Construction Syndicate pushes forward for the sake of pride and greed. Appointed to lead a commission to the Baluchi ruler, Colonel Piedmont Moore travels abroad with his friend Dr. Warner, his daughter Janet, and Warner's children Allison and Bessie. When they arrive in Baluchistan, they discover that the kingdom is undergoing a period of political unrest: the Khan is dying, and two princes are vying to inherit the throne. While Daughters of Destiny is far from the fantasy and fairy tale style most of Baum's readers adore him for, it remains an entertaining work of adventure fiction for devoted fans of the Oz series and newcomers alike. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of L. Frank Baum's Daughters of Destiny is a classic of American literature reimagined for modern readers.

The White Wampum (1895) is the debut poetry collection of E. Pauline Johnson. Originally published in London, The White Wampum launched her career as one of Canada's most distinguished artists. Revered as one the foremost indigenous poets of her time, Johnson was a prolific writer whose works explored her Mohawk heritage while shedding light on the racism and persecution faced by indigenous peoples across North America. The White Wampum captures Johnson's range as a poet in tune with the Romantic tradition without erasing her dualistic sense of identity as a woman of Mohawk and English heritage. Choosing to emphasize the former, Johnson, who also went by Tekahionwake, her great-grandfather's name, adopts the persona of a Mohawk wife devoted to her husband, a powerful warrior: "I am Ojistoh, I am she, the wife / Of him whose name breathes bravery and life / And courage to the tribe that calls him chief. / I am Ojistoh, his white star, and he / Is land, and lake, and sky-and soul to me." When members of the rival Huron tribe capture Ojistoh, their plan for retribution fails to account for her own strength and willpower. Outnumbered and unarmed, she remains certain she will return to her husband alive. In "The Camper," Johnson invokes the beauty and simplicity of life on the plains, erasing for a moment all distinction between man and god, heaven and earth: "Night neath the northern skies, lone, black, and grim: / Nought but the starlight lies twixt heaven, and him. / Of man no need has he, of God, no prayer; / He and his Deity are brothers there." With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of E. Pauline Johnson's The White Wampum is a classic of Canadian literature reimagined for modern readers.

In Seven Stages: A Flying Trap Around the World (1891) is a travel narrative by American journalist Elizabeth Bisland. When Bly's journey-inspired by the travels of Phileas Fogg in Jules Verne's Around the World in Eighty Days (1873)-was announced in Joseph Pulitzer's popular newspaper the New York World, Cosmopolitan sent a young reporter of its own to race Bly across the globe. At the time, readers at home were encouraged to estimate the hour and day of Bisland's arrival, generating national interest and launching a series of copycat adventures by ambitious voyagers over the next few decades. "My appetite for mystery at that hour of the day is always lamentably feeble, and it was nearly eleven before I found time to go and investigate this one, although the office in question was only a few minutes' walk from my residence. On arriving, the editor and owner of the magazine asked if I would leave New York that evening for San Francisco and continue from there around the world, endeavoring to complete the journey in some absurdly inadequate space of time." Summoned from her life of work and leisure to undertake a several month journey around the world, Elizabeth Bisland rose to the occasion with courage and wit. Although Nellie Bly made it home five days before her-perhaps due to some subterfuge on the part of her publisher-Bisland took defeat in stride, writing an account filled with wonderful descriptions of her voyage. Ironic and self-effacing, Bisland's account, although less popular than Bly's, remains an essential work from the early days of tabloid entertainment and investigative journalism, a time when publishers were willing enough-or wild enough-to send correspondents on a globetrotting voyage in search of fame. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Elizabeth Bisland's In Seven Stages: A Flying Trap Around the World is a classic work of American travel literature reimagined for modern readers.

All's Well That Ends Well (1607) is a comedy by William Shakespeare. All's Well That Ends Well was likely inspired by the tale of Giletta di Narbona from Boccaccio's Decameron. Unpopular during Shakespeare's lifetime, the play remains one of his least staged works to this day. Despite this, scholars praise All's Well That Ends Well for its moral ambiguity. "The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together, our virtues would be proud if our faults whipped them not, and our crimes would despair if they were not cherish'd by our virtues." For his wit and wordplay alone, William Shakespeare is often considered the greatest writer to ever work in the English language. Where he truly triumphs, however, is in his ability to portray complex human emotions, how these emotions contribute to relationships, and how these relationships interact with politics, culture, and religion. In All's Well That Ends Well, as in so many of Shakespeare's works, love is the center of attention. When Helena heals the King of France, who had been suffering from a persistent illness, he allows her to choose a husband from among his closest advisors. She selects the handsome Bertram, who disdains her for her lowborn social status. Although they marry, he leaves for Italy before consummating their union, failing to suspect the lengths to which Helena will go to get what she desires. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of William Shakespeare's All's Well That Ends Well is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

The History of a Crime (1877) is a book-length essay by Victor Hugo. While Hugo is famous today for his status as a leading French poet and novelist of the nineteenth century, he was also a gifted historian and memoirist who served on the National Assembly of the Second Republic. Following the coup d'état of Napoleon III in 1851, Hugo was among the insurrectionists who revolted against military forces on the streets of Paris. Despite their efforts, the coup was successful, leading to Hugo's exile until 1870. "To outrage Right, to suppress the Assembly, to abolish the Constitution, to strangle the Republic, to overthrow the Nation, to sully the Flag, to dishonor the Army, to suborn the Clergy and the Magistracy, to succeed, to triumph, to govern, to administer, to exile, to banish, to transport, to ruin, to assassinate, to reign, with such complicities that the law at last resembles a foul bed of corruption. What! All these enormities were to be committed! And by whom?" The French Second Republic was already in danger when Napoleon III was elected President of France in 1848. A populist, he was in constant conflict with the National Assembly and, nearing the end of his term, sought to seek reelection through constitutional change. When this avenue was denied, he began preparations for Operation Rubicon, a secret plan to conduct a coup d'état with the help of the Army and other high-ranking officials. On December 2nd, 1851, the anniversary of his uncle Napoleon Bonaparte's coronation and victory at Austerlitz, the coup took place. Hugo, a National Assembly member, took to the streets of Paris with thousands of his fellow insurrectionaries, many of whom were beaten, arrested, and murdered for their actions. Despite their efforts, the coup was successful, leading to the reestablishment of the French Empire in 1852. Hugo's essay-part history, part memoir-is a brilliant retelling of one of democracy's darkest moments. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Victor Hugo's The History of a Crime is a classic work of French literature reimagined for modern readers.

As You Like It (1599) is a comedy by William Shakespeare. As You Like It was probably inspired by Thomas Lodge's Rosalynd, Euphues Golden Legacie (1587), a story based on "The Tale of Gamelyn," a Middle English romance. For its deconstruction of traditional gender roles and depiction of homoeroticism, As You Like It remains an important and frequently performed play in Shakespeare's oeuvre. "All the world's a stage, / And all the men and women merely players, / They have their exits and their entrances, / And one man in his time plays many parts..." For his wit and wordplay alone, William Shakespeare is often considered the greatest writer to ever work in the English language. Where he truly triumphs, however, is in his ability to portray complex human emotions, how these emotions contribute to relationships, and how these relationships interact with politics, culture, and religion. When Frederick exiles the Duke and usurps his throne, he allows his daughter Rosalind to remain due to her close friendship with his daughter Celia. When Rosalind is blamed for a conflict between brothers Oliver and Orlando, Frederick banishes her from the duchy. Determined to remain together, the two friends disguise themselves and, joined by the court jester Touchstone, flee for the Forest of Arden. There, Rosalind-in the guise of Ganymede-and Celia-as Aliena-attempt to survive through the kindness of strangers and old acquaintances alike. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of William Shakespeare's As You Like It is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

“From the Darkness Cometh the Light” (1891) is a memoir by Lucy A. Delaney. Published in St. Louis in the last year of Delaney's life, the work is regarded as an essential slave narrative and the only firsthand account of a freedom suit, by which some enslaved African Americans were able to achieve their freedom prior to emancipation. Twentieth century scholars of feminism and African American literature in particular have upheld her work and continue to celebrate her influence on the historical and cultural development of the nation. "On a dismal night in the month of September, Polly, with four other colored persons, were kidnapped, and, after being securely bound and gagged, were put into a skiff and carried across the Mississippi River to the city of St. Louis. Shortly after, these unfortunate negroes were taken up the Missouri River and sold into slavery." Tracing her mother's life back to this tragic event, Lucy A. Delaney tells a story of enslavement, hardship, and perseverance, the story of her family's struggle for freedom. As a young woman, Polly brought two lawsuits to court in St. Louis in the hopes of freeing herself and her daughter from slavery. Following their historic victory, mother and daughter remained together as Lucy attempted to start a family of her own. Despite losing her first husband and several children from her second marriage, Lucy remained dedicated to serving God and her community as a leader in her church and president of several organizations for the empowerment of African American women.

My Reminiscences was written by Tagore in his fiftieth-year, as he prepared to embark on a journey around the world. "I know not who paints the pictures on memory's canvas, but whoever he may be, what he is painting are pictures, by which I mean that he is not there with his brush simply to make a faithful copy of all that is happening. He takes in and leaves out according to his taste…In short he is painting pictures, and not writing history." In this collection of memories, Tagore is at his philosophical, poetic best, reflecting earnestly and with ease on matters public and private. Looking back on a life at the center of Indian culture, Tagore moves fluidly and fluently from youth to young adulthood, recalling family, friends, servants, and strangers with clarity and curiosity. Afloat in his houseboat, lying on a rooftop at night, or exploring the outer limits of his mind, Tagore shares his insight with us all.

The Cycle of Spring is a powerful and playful meditation on the cycle of nature, the ethics of leadership, and the regenerative function of art. Spring has arrived and the people are joyous, making music and preparing to celebrate the end of a harsh winter. At the palace, however, the King has discovered two grey hairs, cause for despair in a man obsessed with maintaining a youthful image. As his advisors attempt to focus his attention- a famine in Nagapatam requires his immediate intervention, an ambassador from China has arrived- the King summons the court Poet. Tasked with staging a performance for his majesty, the bard puts on a symbolic performance with the hope of inspiring a renewed sense of energy in the palace.

Sadhana: The Realisation of Life (1916) is a collection of essays by Rabindranath Tagore. Published after Tagore received the 1913 Nobel Prize in Literature, Sadhana: The Realisation of Life contains the author's thoughts on selfhood, the universe, morality, and beauty. Inspired by the Upanishads, the sacred foundational texts of Hinduism, Tagore's collection bridges the gap between East and West, ancient and modern, in its search for universal truth. "The west seems to take a pride in thinking that it is subduing nature […] This sentiment is the product of the city-wall habit and training of mind. For in the city life man naturally directs the concentrated light of his mental vision upon his own life and works, and this creates an artificial dissociation between himself and the Universal Nature within whose bosom he lies." In this collection of essays, Tagore is at his philosophical, poetic best, reflecting earnestly and with ease on matters public and private. Grounded in the teachings of the Upanishads, Sadhana: The Realisation of Life is a text engaged with the role of tradition in an increasingly alienated and individualistic modern world. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Rabindranath Tagore's Sadhana: The Realisation of Life is a classic of Indian literature reimagined for modern readers.

The play is based on the story of Chitrangada and Arjuna from Sanskrit epic Mahabharata. "I am Chitra, the daughter of the kingly house of Manipur. With godlike grace Lord Shiva promised to my royal grandsire an unbroken line of male descent. Nevertheless, the divine word proved powerless to change the spark of life in my mother's womb-so invincible was my nature, woman though I be." Her whole life, Chitra has tried to live up to her father's name. Raised as the son he never had, she becomes a fearsome warrior and legendary hero, yet still longs for something more. When she meets the handsome Arjuna, Chitra petitions the god of love to make her beautiful. Mercifully, they allow her to be with her lover for one whole year.

The Lover's Assistant; or, New Art of Love (1760) is an updated translation of Ovid's Ars Amatoria; or, The Art of Love (2 AD) by English satirist Henry Fielding. Divided into three books, Ars Amatoria; or, The Art of Love was immensely popular-if a little controversial-in its time, and has survived numerous charges of indecency over the centuries. For the modern reader, it should prove a surprisingly relatable work on intimacy from an author of the ancient world. Fielding's translation, of the first book alone, remains true to Ovid's Latin while updating its examples and historical context for the contemporary English reader. At times serious, at others humorous, The Lover's Assistant, or, New Art of Love uses a mix of down-to-earth examples and relatable references to mythology in order to offer salient advice for the reader longing for love. Maintaining much of Ovid's content, Fielding replaces the context of the poem-ancient Rome-with that of his contemporary England. Topics include etiquette, remembering birthdays, avoiding unhealthy jealousy, being open to older and younger lovers, and nurturing honesty. With his wry wit and clear-eyed sense of English aristocratic life, Fielding-who is seen as a pioneer of English literature for his work, including the comic novel Tom Jones (1749) -provides a loyal reinterpretation of Ovid's classic study of romance between men and women. The Lover's Assistant, or, New Art of Love, although frequently tongue-in-cheek, is an earnest and effective attempt to enlighten and encourage its readers to partake-responsibly-in one of life's greatest pleasures.

Fruit-Gathering is a powerful collection of prose poems by a master of Indian literature. "Bid me and I shall gather my fruits to bring them in full baskets into your courtyard, though some are lost and some not ripe. For the season grows heavy with its fullness, and there is a plaintive shepherd's pipe, in the shade. Bid me and I shall set sail on the river." In these poems of love, nature, faith, and dreams, Tagore is at the height of his creative powers. In one passage, he is a lovesick youth, in another, an illiterate man with a letter he cannot read. He longs to be a poet of the night, a singer of "fathomless silence." Filled with visions of saints and kings, celebrations of beauty, and powerful evocations of the natural world, Fruit-Gathering is one of his most original works.

Helen of Troy and Other Poems (1911) is a poetry collection by Sara Teasdale. The poet's second collection, published several years before she was awarded the 1918 Pulitzer Prize, is a masterful collection of lyric poems meditating on life, romance, and the natural world. Somber and celebratory, symbolic and grounded in experience, Helen of Troy and Other Poems revels in the mystery of existence itself. "Wild flight on flight against the fading dawn / The flames' red wings soar upward duskily. / This is the funeral pyre and Troy is dead / That sparkled so the day I saw it first, / And darkened slowly after. I am she / Who loves all beauty-yet I wither it." As Troy burns, Teasdale imagines an impassioned monologue given from the ramparts by the infamous Helen, whose faithlessness in marriage was the catalyst for war in Homer's Iliad. Although she is often seen as a minor character, more an object of male desire than an autonomous subject in her own right, Teasdale refuses to follow the template passed down by generations of poets-mostly men. Her Helen is meditative and intelligent, capable of immense sorrow and full-throated rage alike: "Men's lives shall waste with longing after me, / For I shall be the sum of their desire, / The whole of beauty, never seen again." While acknowledging her role in Troy's destruction, Helen is a tragic figure in Teasdale's poem, a woman who never asked for beauty, let alone for the troubles that beauty brought down on the world. Containing monologue poems from such figures as Sappho, Beatrice, and Guenevere, alongside a series of love poems and finely-crafted sonnets, Helen of Troy and Other Poems is a brilliant collection by a gifted American poet. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Sara Teasdale's Helen of Troy and Other Poems is a classic work of American poetry reimagined for modern readers.

Women Are People! (1917) is a collection of poems by Alice Duer Miller. Inspired by her work as an activist for women's suffrage, Miller published many of these poems individually in the New York Tribune before compiling them into this larger work. Focusing on the opposition of politicians and citizens alike, Miller makes a compelling and frequently hilarious case for the extension of voting rights to women across the nation. With her keen eye for hypocrisy and even keener ear for the rhythms of the English language, Alice Miller Duer crafts a poetry both personal and political.

The Stone Axe of Burkamukk (1922) is a collection of Aboriginal legends by Mary Grant Bruce. The product of extensive research on the Aboriginal peoples of Gippsland, Victoria, Bruce's collection was intended to educate Australian settlers regarding the traditions of those they had displaced. Despite drawing criticism for her use of racist stereotypes, Bruce's hope was that her work would force her fellow settlers to "see that they were boys and girls, men and women, not so unlike us in many ways, and that they could admire what we admire in each other." Recognizing her prejudices, as a product of her time, one can appreciate The Stone Axe of Burkamukk as a record of Aboriginal tales, as well as the writer's status in settler-colonial society.

Hawaiian Legends of Ghosts and Ghost-Gods (1915) is a collection of Hawaiian folktales and myths by W. D. Westervelt. Connecting the origin story of Hawaii to the traditions of other Polynesian cultures, Westervelt provides an invaluable resource for understanding the historical and geographical scope of Hawaiian culture. Drawing on the work of David Malo, Samuel Kamakau, and Abraham Fornander, Westervelt, originally from Ohio, became a leading authority on the Hawaiian Islands, publishing extensively on their legends, religious beliefs, and folk tales. "The legends of the Hawaiian Islands are as diverse as those of any country in the world. They are also entirely distinct in form and thought from the fairy tales, which excite the interest and wonder of the English and German children. The mythology of Hawaii follows the laws upon which all myths are constructed." Part ethnography, part geological description, Westervelt's work is a powerful celebration of the cultural traditions of the Hawaiian Islands. In these legends, ghosts and gods interact with the environment and the daily lives of islanders, shaping human society and the land itself. Highlights include the story of the Wauhaula heiau, or temple, the legend of the enraged Hau-pu and the Rock of Kauai, and the tale of Nanaue, the shark-man of Waipio Valley.

“The Birch Bark Books of Simon Pokagon” is a collection of articles and legends written for and about the Potawatomi tribe by Simon Pokagon. Before Chicago was one of the largest and most prosperous cities in the nation, it was home to the Anishinaabe peoples, including the Potawatomi to whom Simon Pokagon belonged. Angered with the erasure of his people and the whitewashing of the history of violence against America's indigenous tribes, Pokagon gave this opening speech, "The Red Man's Rebuke," at the World's Columbia Exposition of 1893. A lifelong activist, Pokagon dissects the false narrative of savagery and civilization which justified the actions of European settlers while vilifying those they displaced in their movement westward. During the Exposition, Pokagon would speak to a crowd of 75,000 on his hope for the future of his people.

Rivers to the Sea (1915) is a masterful collection of lyric poems meditating on life, romance, and the natural world. Somber and celebratory, symbolic and grounded in experience, Rivers to the Sea revels in the mystery of existence itself.

The Traditional History and Characteristic Sketches of the Ojibway Nation (1850) is a work of Indigenous American history by George Copway. Written while he was living with his wife and daughter in New York, The Traditional History and Characteristic Sketches of the Ojibway Nation helped establish Copway's reputation as a leading Native American author of the nineteenth century. Recognized as one of the first books of its kind written by an indigenous author, Copway's work is an invaluable resource for understanding the history of contact between settlers and indigenous peoples, some of whom, like Copway's family, assimilated and served as missionaries, translators, and ambassadors. "There is room and opportunity for adventure among the bold, broken, rugged rocks, piled up one upon another in 'charming confusion,' on the shores, along the borders of the silent waters, or beneath the solid cliffs against which the waters of Superior break with a force which has polished their rocky surface. The mountains, rivers, lakes, cliffs, and caverns of the Ojibway country, impress one with the thought that Nature has there built a home for Nature's children. Raised in a moment of immense cultural change for his people, George Copway played a complicated role as a Methodist missionary and Ojibway historian, preserving the traditions of his people while working to assimilate their religious beliefs with those of the white settlers whose presence so often proved detrimental to their continued existence. In this powerful work, one of the first written texts on Indigenous American history by an indigenous author, Copway reflects on the cultural traditions, geographical territory, and ancestral stories of the Ojibway people. Written in a poetic, meditative prose, The Traditional History and Characteristic Sketches of the Ojibway Nation remains essential reading nearly two centuries after it appeared in print.

The Flowers of Evil (1857) is a collection of poems by Charles Baudelaire. Translated into English by Cyril Scott in 1909, Baudelaire's poems remain lively and idiosyncratic nearly two centuries after they came into existence. Comprised mostly of sonnets and short lyrics, The Flowers of Evil captures Baudelaire's sense of the changing role of the poet in modern life. Rather than focus on beauty and other ideals, Baudelaire explores the totality of human experience- the good, bad, and ugly of life on earth.

"The first taste I had for books came to me from my pleasure in the fables of the Metamorphoses of Ovid. For at about seven or eight years of age I would steal away from any other pleasure to read them, inasmuch as this language was my mother tongue, and it was the easiest book I knew and the best suited by its content to my tender age." –Michel de Montaigne</p Ars Amatoria; or, The Art of Love (2 AD) is an instructional poem by Ovid. Divided into three books, Ars Amatoria; or, The Art of Love was immensely popular-if a little controversial-in its time, and has survived numerous charges of indecency over the centuries. For the modern reader, it should prove a surprisingly relatable work on intimacy from an author of the ancient world. Although it has been argued that the publication of this work led to Ovid's exile in 8 AD, it remains unlikely that the poet was banished for anything other than political reasons having to do with succession. At times serious, at others humorous, Ars Amatoria; or, The Art of Love uses a mix of down-to-earth examples and relatable references to mythology in order to offer salient advice for the reader longing for love. Far from a valuable artifact of classical literature-which it is, in part-Ovid's work is a wonderfully straightforward textbook on all aspects of human relationships. Topics include etiquette, remembering birthdays, avoiding unhealthy jealousy, being open to older and younger lovers, and nurturing honesty. On sex, Ovid suggests a careful selection of positions according to comfort and physique, ultimately recommending that love-making be done in a way that pleasures all parties involved. Ars Amatoria; or, The Art of Love, although frequently tongue-in-cheek, is an earnest and effective attempt to enlighten and encourage its readers to partake-responsibly-in one of life's greatest pleasures. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Ovid's Ars Amatoria; or, The Art of Love is a classic work of Roman literature reimagined for modern readers.

Benvenuto Cellini started getting onto trouble at a young age. By age sixteen, he had already been exiled from his hometown for six months due to a public assault of another citizen. As a man with endless talents- sculpting, drafting, writing, music, Cellini enjoyed dabbling in many different art forms, a career that enabled him to travel to various major cities. After apprenticing for a goldsmith, Cellini moved to Rome at age nineteen. There, Pope Clement praised his work. However, Cellini's relationship with Clement was the last time he stood in good graces with a Pope. After insulting Pope Clément's successor, Pope Farnese, Cellini left Rome to pursue work in France, fearing that he would be arrested, if he stayed. However, his travels did not protect him from the wrath of Pope Farnese. After being accused of the theft of precious Vatican items, Cellini was imprisoned. Deciding to take matters into his own hands, Cellini organizes a prison escape. Though his feud with Pope Farnese greatly complicated his life, Cellini relishes making enemies, and finds humor in every situation he is in. With stories of sexual conquests, murder, escapes, near-death experiences, and artistic endeavors, Benvenuto Cellini reveals all the salacious details of his exhilarating life. Though he exposes many ugly personality traits that he possesses, Cellini himself does not believe that he has faults, and only admits to being wrong once in his life. Despite this, Cellini possesses an influential amount of charisma, which is as evident in his written work as it was in his life. Autobiography by Benvenuto Cellini provides a privileged look into the social life of the Italian Renaissance, and preserves the memory of the incredible artistic work of Cellini, most of which has been lost to time. Because of the fascinating and atypical life Cellini led, paired with his charisma and humor, Autobiography has remained to feel exciting and relevant to a modern audience, both for entertainment and educational purposes.

Stray Birds is a powerful collection of short poems by a master of Indian literature. "Stray birds of summer come to my window to sing and fly away. And yellow leaves of autumn, which have no songs, flutter and fall there with a sigh." The poems of Stray Birds are a masterclass in clarity and concision. Like birds themselves, they flutter across the sky of the page before passing beyond the limit of sight. In prayer, in celebration, and in evocations of the natural world, Tagore comes as close to the truth as possible, catching a glimpse before it can fly away forever: "Let me live truly, my Lord, so that death to me become true." In plainspoken language, Tagore gives voice to the soul.

Antony and Cleopatra (1607) is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. Inspired by Thomas North's translation of Plutarch's Lives-a series of biographies on influential figures of the ancient world-Shakespeare wrote Antony and Cleopatra sometime between 1599 and 1601. Often considered a sequel of sorts to his earlier play Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra has served as source material for countless film and television adaptations. "Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch / Of the ranged empire fall! Here is my space." For his wit and wordplay alone, William Shakespeare is often considered the greatest writer to ever work in the English language. Where he truly triumphs, however, is in his ability to portray complex human emotions, how these emotions contribute to relationships, and how these relationships interact with politics, culture, and religion. As the Roman Republic faces threats both foreign and domestic, Mark Antony-a triumvir alongside Lepidus and Octavius-abandons his duties to remain in Alexandria with his lover, Queen Cleopatra of Egypt. When the demands of state become impossible to ignore any longer, he returns to Rome. There, he is encouraged to marry Octavia, the sister of his fellow ruler. At the risk of rupturing their fragile relationship, he consents, enraging Cleopatra. As conflict with Octavius forces Antony out of the triumvirate, he returns to his lover to rule over Egypt. But Rome and revenge are never too far away. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of William Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

The Taming of the Shrew (1592) is a comedy by William Shakespeare. Written between 1590 and 1592, The Taming of the Shrew is one of Shakespeare's earliest works. Frequently critiqued by scholars for its demeaning portrayal of Katherina and for Petruchio's violence, the play has also been considered as an ironic treatment of the inequality experienced by women in marriage. The Taming of the Shrew has served as source material for countless film and television adaptations, including McClintock! (1963) starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. "If I be waspish, best beware my sting." For his wit and wordplay alone, William Shakespeare is often considered the greatest writer to ever work in the English language. Where he truly triumphs, however, is in his ability to portray complex human emotions, how these emotions contribute to relationships, and how these relationships interact with politics, culture, and religion. The Taming of the Shrew, like many of Shakespeare's works, begins with a framing device. Christopher Sly, a notorious drunk, has come to believe that he is a lord. In order to distract him, his fellow denizens of the alehouse stage a play set in Padua. As suitors line up to marry the beautiful young Bianca, they find themselves prevented by her father's only rule: her older sister Katherina must be married first. Notoriously independent, Katherina-the shrew of the title-simply refuses to tie herself to a man. When Petruchio arrives from Verona in search of a wife, he finds himself up for the challenge. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

Orchard and Vineyard (1921) is a poetry collection by Vita Sackville-West.

The Man Who Lost Himself (1920) is a novel by Henry De Vere Stacpoole. Although he is more widely known for his novel The Blue Lagoon (1908), which inspired the 1980 hit drama starring Brooke Shields, Stacpoole was a prolific bestselling author whose dozens of literary works continue to inspire and entertain a century after they first appeared in print. "With no financial foundation, Victor and a Philadelphia gentleman had competed for a contract to supply the British Government with Harveyised steel struts, bolts, and girders, he had come over to London to press the business, he had interviewed men in brass hats, slow moving men who had turned him over to slower moving men. [...] [T]his morning their tender had been rejected." In this thrilling tale of mistaken identity, Stacpoole moves away from his favorite setting of the South Pacific to the frenzied streets and barrooms of London's financial district. There, a desperate businessman learns that his proposal to secure a lucrative contract has been denied. With no money and a slew of creditors to appease, Victor Jones heads for the hotel bar to drown his sorrows. In his bleakest moment, he meets his doppelganger, an Englishman named Mr. Rochester. After a night of hard drinking, Jones awakens in a strange bedroom surrounded by the finest furniture money can buy. Before he can gather his senses, a servant enters with the paper and greets him as the Earl of Rochester. What he learns next will change his life forever. The Man Who Lost Himself was adapted into a 1920 silent film as well as a 1941 Hollywood feature starring Brian Aherne and Kay Francis. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Henry De Vere Stacpoole's The Man Who Lost Himself is a classic of British literature reimagined for modern readers.

The Merry Wives of Windsor (1601) is a comedy by William Shakespeare. Following the success of Henry IV Part I, it is rumored that Queen Elizabeth requested that the bard write a play featuring the character Falstaff in love. Falstaff, a clownish character notable for his bravery and loyalty to King Henry V, remains one of Shakespeare's most beloved characters. Despite this prominence, it has earned a reputation as one of the playwright's least staged works. "Come, we have a hot venison pasty to dinner: come, gentlemen, I hope we shall drink down all unkindness." For his wit and wordplay alone, William Shakespeare is often considered the greatest writer to ever work in the English language. Where he truly triumphs, however, is in his ability to portray complex human emotions, how these emotions contribute to relationships, and how these relationships interact with politics, culture, and religion. Arriving in Windsor with an empty stomach and even emptier pockets, Falstaff comes up with a plan to seduce a wealthy woman. When his servants refuse to deliver his letters to Mistresses Ford and Page-both of them married-he fires Pistol and Nym, who subsequently inform the ladies' husbands. Eventually, the Mistresses get their hands on Falstaff's letters and, upon discovering they are exactly the same, conspire to embarrass the aging, overweight bachelor. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of William Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

Featuring twelve simple yet profound essays, Jerome K. Jerome's Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow is a humorous and clever collection. Each essay is crafted around a timeless and relatable issue, such as the unfortunately common inability to make decisions. On the Art of Making Up One's Mind observes this to be a common practice. Beginning with the story of a young woman who cannot decide what color of garment to buy, this essay takes notice of the everyday day occurrences of this struggle, comparing the experience for men and women. As a common theme in the collection, societal expectations and assumptions about gender play a main role in many of the essays, tackling topics such as relationships and dating. However, other essays focus on the universal experience of being human, separate from implications of gender. This is portrayed in On the Exceptional Merit Attaching to the Things We Meant to Do through the narrative of a failed craft. Despite shortcomings, pride always finds a way to warp reality, which is why Jerome ironically warns against taking advice in the essay On the Inadvisability of Following Advice. With discussions of pride, intention, vices, and ideals, Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow addresses the truths of topics that are simultaneously overlooked, yet universally experienced. With satirical prose and thoughtful reflection, Jerome K. Jerome combines humor and sentiment in Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow, presenting serious topics without intimidation, inviting thought and laughter. Though first published over one-hundred years ago in 1898, Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow feature timeless and universal themes and realizations that remain to be clever and relevant to modern-day society.

A Masque of Poets (1878) is a poetry collection edited by George Parsons Lathrop. Part of Boston-based publisher Roberts Brothers' "No Name" series, A Masque of Poets presents the works of little-known writers-including Emily Dickinson-alongside such recognized masters as Christina Rossetti and James Russell Lowell, leaving each poem anonymous to allow the reader to experience the work without thought of reputation. "Sing! Sing of what? The world is full of song; / And all the singing seems but echoed notes / Of the great masters…" Beginning with this playful introductory poem, A Masque of Poets attempts to demystify poetry by removing poets from the equation altogether. Understanding the pressures inherent to making art, especially the kind of art with such a long and storied history as poetry, this collection foregoes reputation and tradition by allowing the poems to speak for themselves, to appear anonymously so that the reader might make a clear judgment regarding each poem's meaning and quality. Far from mere publishing gimmick, A Masque of Poets is a highly original, challenging, and rewarding collection of poems that happens to include works from some of the nineteenth century's finest poets. By forcing the reader to trust their interpretive abilities, A Masque of Poets reinvigorates a craft whose worth was never the names of its practitioners, but the words they could produce. "Success," the final poem before the concluding "novelette in verse" Guy Vernon, just so happens to be one of the only poems published by Emily Dickinson in her lifetime. For its importance to Dickinson scholars, as well as for its genuine originality, A Masque of Poets remains an essential contribution to the history of American literature. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of A Masque of Poets is a classic work of American literature reimagined for modern readers.

Three Sisters (1900) is a drama in four acts by Russian playwright and short story writer Anton Chekhov. It was first performed at the Moscow Art Theatre in 1901, directed by acclaimed actor Konstantin Stanislavski-who also played the role of Aleksandr Ignatyevich Vershinin, a philosophizing artillery officer in love with middle Prozorov sister Masha. Reviews were mixed at first, but as the play continued to run, Three Sisters became a popular success, acclaimed by audiences and critics alike. The play follows the Provorov family, focusing on sisters Olga, Masha, and Irina, as well as their brother Andrei. Each character struggles to balance their secret ambitions while facing the daily circumstances of reality. Olga, the oldest sister, is an unmarried schoolteacher who often finds herself responsible for the lives and happiness of others. Masha, the middle sister, is unhappily married to the kind Latin teacher Fyodor Kulygin, who knows about her affair with Lieutenant-Colonel Vershinin but continues to love and care for her. Irina, the youngest, is a vain and childish woman engaged to a man she respect but does not love. Andrei is initially an ambitious and energetic young man whose ill-fated marriage ruins not only his prospects of becoming a professor in Moscow, but his will to live as a man with any sense of self-respect. Natasha, who begins as an orphaned young woman unfit for high society, eventually emerges as a manipulative, envious woman whose love for her two children is matched only by her will to control the lives of the entire Prozorov family. Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov, is a brilliant drama whose complex characters make us believe, for a time, in an art more real than life.

Unwritten Literature of Hawaii: The Sacred Songs of the Hula (1909) is a collection of hulas and essays by Nathaniel B. Emerson. Translating previously unwritten songs, interviewing native Hawaiians, and consulting the works of indigenous historians, Emerson provides an entertaining and authoritative look at one of Hawaii's most cherished traditions. "For an account of the first hula we may look to the story of Pele. On one occasion that goddess begged her sisters to dance and sing before her, but they all excused themselves, saying they did not know the art. At that moment, in came little Hiiaka, the youngest and the favorite... When banteringly invited to dance, to the surprise of all, Hiiaka modestly complied. The wave-beaten sand-beach was her floor, the open air her hall, Feet and hands and swaying form kept time to her improvisation." As an American born in Hawaii who played a major role in the annexation of the islands as an author of the 1887 Constitution of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Emerson likely saw himself as a unifying figure capable of interpreting for an English-speaking audience the ancient and sacred tradition of the hula, a Polynesian dance often accompanied with instruments and chanting or singing. Combining critical analysis with samples of popular hulas in both Hawaiian and English, Emerson works to preserve part of the rich cultural heritage of the Hawaiian Islands.

The Collected Meditations of Mrs. Maria W. Stewart (2021) compiles the speeches and writings of Maria W. Stewart. This groundbreaking collection includes some of the best works from across Stewart's career as the first African American public lecturer, including Meditations from the Pen of Mrs. Maria Stewart, her 1832 speech delivered at the Franklin Hall, her address delivered before the African American Female Intelligence Society, and her lecture delivered at the African Masonic Hall in 1833. "Many will suffer for pleading the cause of oppressed Africa, and I shall glory in being one of her martyrs; for I am firmly persuaded that the God in whom I trust is able to protect me from the rage and malice of mine enemies, and from them that will rise up against me; and if there is no other way for me to escape, He is able to take me to himself..." In the brief span of five years, Stewart became one of Boston's most prominent lecturers on abolition and women's rights, passionately condemning the institution of slavery while calling attention to the racism faced by free African Americans living in the north. This collection places some of her best-known speeches alongside her highly regarded meditations, personal reflections on life as a Black woman in nineteenth century America. A keen observer of political events and a powerful voice against oppression of all kinds, Maria W. Stewart remains relatively unknown despite her prominent role in the movements for abolition and women's rights. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Collected Meditations of Mrs. Maria W. Stewart is a classic of African American literature reimagined for modern readers.

A London Plane-Tree and Other Verse (1889) is a poetry collection by Amy Levy. Published in the year of her death at the age of 27, A London Plane-Tree and Other Verse is the work of a pioneering writer and feminist, whose poetry and prose explores the concept of the New Woman, while illuminating the realities of Jewish life in nineteenth century London.

In his landmark collection Gitanjali, Tagore explored the realm of the spirit, paring down language to its clearest, purest form. In The Gardener, he gives expression to more worldly themes. Here, he is a fisherman, a restless wanderer, a servant and queen, an observer of life in all forms.

The Aeneid (19 BC) is an epic poem by Roman poet Virgil. Translated by English poet laureate John Dryden in 1697, Virgil's legendary epic is the story of the hero Aeneas, a castaway from Troy whose adventures across the Mediterranean led him to Italy, where he discovered what would later become the city of Rome. Presented here in faithful translation, though rearranged to accommodate Dryden's rhyming couplets, The Aeneid is a treasure of classical literature and a story of romance, war, and adventure to rival the best of Homer. "Arms, and the man I sing, who, forc'd by fate, / And haughty Juno's unrelenting hate, / Expell'd and exil'd, left the Trojan shore." Fleeing the destruction of Troy by Greek forces, Aeneas brings his son Ascanius and father Anchises on a voyage across the sea. Landing in Carthage, Aeneas, his family, and his crew are rescued by Dido, Queen of Tyre. There, Aeneas, despite mourning the loss of his beloved wife Creusa, falls in love with Dido, who offers him refuge and her devoted love. Knowing that he is destined to found a city in Italy, however, Aeneas abandons the queen, leading her to commit suicide. Now determined to fulfill his destiny at any cost, Aeneas sails to Sicily, journeys to the underworld, and eventually arrives in the region of Latium, where he is swept up in conflict with Turnus, the Rutulian king. Flawed and feared, Aeneas exemplifies the imperfect hero compelled by fate and the gods, yet ultimately driven through a will to survive and provide for his fledgling people.

Men, Women, and Ghosts (1916) is a poetry collection by Amy Lowell. Published at the beginning of her career as an influential imagist devoted to classical poetic themes and forms, Men, Women, and Ghosts is an agile and promising work from a pioneering poet of the early twentieth century.

Caste and Outcast (1923) is an autobiography by Dhan Gopal Mukerji. Published the year after Mukerji moved from San Francisco to New York City, Caste and Outcast is a moving autobiographical narrative from the first Indian writer to gain a popular audience in the United States.

A Dome of Many-Coloured Glass (1912) is a poetry collection by Amy Lowell. Published at the beginning of her career as an influential imagist devoted to classical poetic themes and forms, A Dome of Many-Coloured Glass is an agile and promising work from a pioneering poet of the early twentieth century. Containing lyric poems, sonnets, verses for children, and a masterful long poem, A Dome of Many-Coloured Glass is a vibrant collection from an emerging poet who would come to define the imagist movement throughout her storied career. In poems like "Azure and Gold," Lowell displays natural imagery intertwined with the play of words, producing such stanzas as "April had covered the hills / With flickering yellows and reds, / The sparkle and coolness of snow / Was blown from the mountain beds." From the drama inherent to seasonal change, she extracts a revelation from "the song of birds, / Who, swinging unseen under leaves, / Made music more eager than words." In "The Boston Athenaeum," a masterful long poem on one of the oldest libraries in the United States, she recalls "Long, peaceful hours seated on the floor / Of some retired nook, all lined with books, / Where reverie and quiet reign supreme!" Personal and public, keenly engaged with tradition while maintaining her own private voice, Lowell's poems are an essential contribution to one of humanity's oldest art forms. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition Amy Lowell's A Dome of Many-Coloured Glass is a classic work of American poetry reimagined for modern readers.

Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan (1882) is a collection of poems by Toru Dutt. Compiled after her death and published in London, Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan is an invaluable work of art from a pioneering figure in Indian history and Bengali literature. Born in Calcutta to a family of Bengali Christians, Toru Dutt was raised at the crossroads of English and Indian cultures. In addition to her native Bengali, she became fluent in English, French, and Sanskrit as a young girl, eventually writing novels and poems in each language. Despite her limited body of work, Dutt's legacy as a groundbreaking writer remains firm in India and around the world. "Savitri was the only child / Of Madra's wise and mighty king; / Stern warriors, when they saw her, smiled, / As mountains smile to see the spring." In rhyming English verse, Bengali poet Toru Dutt presents some of the oldest and most sacred stories from ancient India. Translated from Sanskrit into the popular ballad form, Dutt introduces an English audience to the story of Savitri, originally from the epic Mahabharata, as well as the tale of Lakshman, which comes from the Hindu epic Ramayana. Alongside these poems appear Dutt's versions of Bengali folklore-"Joghadhya Uma"-and poems written during her stay in Europe. "Near Hastings" is a particularly beautiful example of her original verse depicting an otherworldly encounter along the English seacoast: "Near Hastings, on the shingle-beach, / We loitered at the time / When ripens on the wall the peach, / The autumn's lovely prime." With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Toru Dutt's Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan is a classic work of Bengali literature reimagined for modern readers.

The Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore (1918) is an academic study by Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Published at the beginning of his career as one of India's leading professors of comparative religion, the work is a masterful investigation of the teachings of poet-philosopher Rabindranath Tagore. In 1913, Tagore was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, making him the first lyricist and non-European to be awarded the distinction. Over the next several decades, Tagore wrote his influential novel The Home and the World (1916), toured dozens of countries, and advocated on behalf of Dalits and other oppressed peoples. "Rabindranath's teaching, with its vital faith in the redeeming power of the spiritual forces and their up-building energy, has a particular value at the present moment, when the civilized world is passing through the crucible of a ghastly war which, whether or not it purges the nations of their pride and hate, lust for gold and greed of land, at least proclaims, in no uncertain tones, the utter bankruptcy of materialism." In this masterwork of twentieth century criticism, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan explores the philosophical teachings of Rabindranath Tagore, a leading artist and intellectual of modern India. Divided into five chapters, the book explores the interrelation of poetry and philosophy in Tagore's work, his influence on Indian culture, and the meaning of his contribution to the nations of the world. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan's The Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore is a classic of Indian literature reimagined for modern readers.

The Fugitive (1921) is a collection of poems by Rabindranath Tagore. Translated into English by Tagore after he received the 1913 Nobel Prize in Literature, The Fugitive is a powerful collection of poems, dialogues, and songs by a master of Indian literature. "Darkly you sweep on, Eternal Fugitive, round whose bodiless rush stagnant space frets into eddying bubbles of light. Is your heart lost to the Lover calling you across his immeasurable loneliness?" The Fugitive is an intoxicating blend of prose poetry, verse dialogue, and songs that investigates themes of faith, love, death, and friendship. Here, Tagore is at the height of his creative powers, providing brilliant original lyrics alongside adaptations from the Hindu epics and his own translations of traditional Bengali songs. Filled with visions of flight, words between lovers torn apart, and powerful evocations of the natural world, The Fugitive is one of his most original works. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Rabindranath Tagore's The Fugitive is a classic of Indian literature reimagined for modern readers.

The Post Office (1914) is a play by Rabindranath Tagore. Published following his ascension to international fame with the 1912 Nobel Prize in Literature, the play was introduced to an international audience by W. B. Yeats. When the Irish poet discovered Tagore's work in translation, he felt an intense kinship with a man whose work was similarly grounded in spirituality and opposition to the British Empire. Brought to Dublin's Abbey Theatre in 1913, The Post Office remains one of Tagore's most influential literary works. "The doctor says all the organs of his little body are at loggerheads with each other, and there isn't much hope for his life. There is only one way to save him and that is to keep him out of this autumn wind and sun." Under doctor's orders, Amal is confined to his uncle's home and courtyard, encouraged in his studies despite his desire to experience the world beyond books. Standing at the front gate, he watches life pass him by along the road, speaking with whoever will stop to listen. When construction begins on a new post office nearby, Amal dreams of one day serving as a messenger for the king. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Rabindranath Tagore's The Post Office is a classic of Indian literature reimagined for modern readers.

Romeo and Juliet (1597) is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. Inspired by an Italian tale adapted for an English audience in 1562 by Arthur Brooke and in 1567 by William Painter, Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet sometime between 1591 and 1595. Alongside Hamlet, it is one of Shakespeare's most performed plays and has served as source material for countless film and television adaptations. "Two households, both alike in dignity, / In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, / From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, / Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean." For his wit and wordplay alone, William Shakespeare is often considered the greatest writer to ever work in the English language. Where he truly triumphs, however, is in his ability to portray complex human emotions, how these emotions contribute to relationships, and how these relationships interact with politics, culture, and religion. In Romeo and Juliet, a "pair of star-cross'd lovers" risk their lives for one another. Because Romeo is a Montague, he cannot love Juliet, a Capulet, the sworn enemies of his family and their major rival in the city of Verona. As is often the case, their hearts refuse the limits of history, leading them to their tragic, unforgettable end. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy (1860) is a work of art history by Swiss historian Jacob Burckhardt. Recognized today as the founder of modern art history and as one of the key thinkers of the nineteenth century, Burckhardt changed not only the way we think about the Renaissance in relation to European and world history, but the value placed on art as a tool for understanding historical developments. The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy begins with a section on the historical events which sparked the Renaissance, focusing especially on the frequent military conflicts which marred the era as well as on the constant political upheavals undergone by such Italian regions and cities as Rome, Venice, and Florence. Burckhardt then moves to a philosophical discussion of the development of individuality in Italian culture, arguing that the political circumstances of those living in the Republics enabled such thinkers as Dante and Petrarch to create art that corresponded with that newfound sense of individuality. The third section discusses one of the key elements of Renaissance culture: the revival of interest in the cultural products of the ancient world, especially Greece and Rome. Part four focuses on the prominence of discovery in Renaissance culture, for which Burckhardt looks to the colonial expedition of Columbus, the growth of the natural sciences, and the achievements of such poets and writers as Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio in discovering new ways to describe humanity and the human spirit. In the fifth section, the importance of societal customs and festivals is discussed, and in the sixth and final part, Burckhardt observes the profound shifts undergone by religion and morality in Italy at the time. The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy is a thorough, dynamic work of art history that not only changed the study of history at universities around the world, but elevated the status of art in understanding the process of cultural change. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Jacob Burckhardt's The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy is a classic of European art history reimagined for modern readers.