013 - Selected excerpts by Edward Dowden

The Library of the Worlds Best Literature, Ancient and Modern, is a monumental collection designed to provide American households with a wealth of exceptional reading material. The editors meticulously curated this expansive anthology of 45 volumes (plus a comprehensive index-guide) featuring the finest works of literature from various eras and genres. Each chapter is preceded by insightful essays about the authors and themes, enriching the readers experience. Many chapters explore collections of works organized by nationality, subject, or period, including fascinating sections on Accadian-Babylonian literature, the Holy Grail, and Chansons. This collection captivates readers not only through its diverse subjects and literary forms but also as an introduction to celebrated authors like Abelard, Dante, and Lord Byron—figures many have heard of but may not have read. As editor Charles Dudley Warner stated, this collection is not a library of reference only, but a library to be read. Volume twelve features chapters from Diderot to Duruy. (Summary by Leni)