Volume 1 of 8
The Library of Choice Literature
Prose and Poetry, Selected from the Most Admired Authors
Edited by Ainsworth R. Spofford & Charles Gibbon.
Gebbie & Co., Philadelphia, 1881.
Illustrated with sixty-six engravings on steel.
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The catalog
192 selections from the opening of Volume I (187 confirmed, 2 with the full text restored). The full table of contents runs to about p.408; the rest is transcribed page-by-page by the pipeline.
192 of 192 selections
- 1The World Behind the Scenes — William Makepeace Thackerayillusionsocietytheatreessay
- 6Abraham Lincoln — Shirley Brooks (in London "Punch")politicsmourningamericaelegy
- 6Napoleon Le Petit — Victor Hugopoliticstyrannysatirepolemic
- 10The Song of the Dying — Bartholomew Dowling ("Captain Dowling")mortalitysoldierydefiancepoem
- 11Rab and His Friends — John Brown, M.D.animalsloyaltydeathmedicinefiction
- 17The Ballad of Bouillabaisse — William Makepeace Thackeraymemorylossconvivialitypoem
- 18Oration on the Dedication of a Statue to Burns — George William Curtisburnspoetrycommemorationoration
- 23The Prize Ode on the Centenary of Burns — Isa Craig Knoxburnspoetrycommemorationode
- 24Speech on Duluth — J. Proctor Knott (Hon.)politicshumorcongressamericasatire
- 27America — Samuel F. Smithpatriotismamericalibertyhymn
- 27The Funeral Oration of Pericles — Thucydidesdemocracywarathensmortalityoration
- 31The Pope and the Beggar — Bulwer Lyttonfaithpovertyironypoem
- 31London Society a Hundred Years Ago — George Otto Trevelyanhistorymannersenglandessay
- 36Thanatopsis — William Cullen Bryantmortalitynatureconsolationpoem
- 37Perling Joan — John Gibson Lockhartscotlandlovetragedyfiction
- 38Cleopatra — William Wetmore Storypassionegyptpowerdramatic monologue
- 40A Battle Picture — Anonymouswardescriptionsketch
- 41The Journey of a Day — Samuel Johnsonmortalitylifewisdomallegory
- 42Andrea del Sarto — Robert Browningartregretmarriagedramatic monologue
- 45The Storm and Shipwreck — Charles DickensFrom "David Copperfield" — the wreck at Yarmouth.seadeathstormfiction
- 49From "In Memoriam" — Alfred Tennysonmourningfaithdoubtfriendshipelegy
- 49A Week at Batavia — Marquis de Beauvoirtraveljavaempiretravel
- 54The Wedding of Shon Maclean — Robert Buchananscotlandrevelrymusicballad
- 56A Discourse of Trees — Henry Ward Beechernaturetreesreflectionessay
- 59The Suicide Banker — A. M. Sullivan (M.P.)The fall of the banker John Sadleir.financeruinirelandnarrative
- 62Carcassonne — Gustave Nadaud (translated; in Lippincott’s Magazine)longingregretthe unreachedpoem
- 62A Night of Terror — Paul Louis Courierfearsuspensenarrative
- 63Parallel between William Penn and John Locke — George Bancroftlibertyhistorycomparisonessay
- 64The Youth of Washington — George Bancroftwashingtonamericabiographyhistory
- 65Childe Harold — Lord Byronwanderingromanticismsolitudepoem
- 66Mark Twain on the Weather — Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain)The New England Society after-dinner speech.humorweathernew englandhumor
- 67The Vision of Mirza, Exhibiting a Picture of Human Life — Joseph AddisonFrom "The Spectator."mortalitylifevisionallegory
- 69Will Waterproof's Lyrical Monologue — Alfred Tennysonconvivialityreflectionwinepoem
- 71Positivism on an Island — W. H. MallockFrom "The New Republic."philosophysatirereligionsatire
- 87The Wants of Man — John Quincy Adamsdesirehumorhuman naturepoem
- 89The Babies — Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain)The 1879 Grand Army of the Tennessee banquet toast.humorbabiestoasthumor
- 90Paraphrase from Seneca — Sir Matthew Halestoicismmortalitycontentmentpoem
- 91Budge's Version of the Flood — John HabbertonFrom "Helen’s Babies."childhoodhumorscripturehumor
- 92The Laocoon — J. G. Hollandartsufferingantiquitypoem
- 92The Treachery of Mettius and Its Punishment — Livyrometreacheryjusticehistory
- 94The Closing Scene — Thomas Buchanan Readautumnwarmortalitypoem
- 95The Last Days of the Emperor Otho — Tacitusromeempiredeathhistory
- 96The Little Man All in Grey — Pierre-Jean de Bérangersatiresongfrancepoem
- 97A Picture of Wild Nature on the Mississippi — F. A. de Chateaubriandnaturewildernessamericadescription
- 97Winifreda — Anonymousloveconstancydomesticpoem
- 98On Old Age — CiceroFrom "Cato Major; or, On Old Age."agemortalitywisdomessay
- 100The Bill of Mortality — William Cowpermortalitytimehumilitypoem
- 100The Lost and Delicious Leisure of the Olden Time — George Eliotleisurehistoryreflectionessay
- 101The Dream — Sir William Davenantdreamlovepoem
- 102Life in "As You Like It" — Douglas Jerroldnaturecontentmentshakespeareessay
- 105A Bridal Song — Beaumont and Fletchermarriagecelebrationsong
- 105Disproportion of Man — Blaise Pascalphilosophyinfinityhumilityessay
- 107The Falcon — Boccacciolovesacrificeitalyfiction
- 109The King of Thule — Goethelovefidelitydeathballad
- 109Three Sonnets — William Drummondlovetransiencesonnet
- 110The Story of Crazy Martha — Jacques Jasminmadnesslossrural lifepoem
- 114The Complaint — Thomas Chattertonsorrowlamentpoem
- 115The Imprisoned Huntsman — Sir Walter Scottcaptivityfreedomthe huntpoem
- 115England and France — Theodore Hooknationsmannerscomparisonessay
- 120A Garden Reverie — Philip Bourke Marstongardenmemoryreveriepoem
- 121The Old Familiar Faces — Charles Lambmemorylossfriendshippoem
- 121Kabiik, an Eastern Tale — Alfred Crowquillthe eastfablefortunefiction
- 123Song — From the Spanish — John Gibson Lockhartlovespaintranslationsong
- 124The Lord's Marie — Allan Cunninghamscotlandlovetragedyballad
- 124The Literary Life — Matthew Browneliteraturevocationreflectionessay
- 129Loughrig Tarn — John Wilson ("Professor Wilson" / Christopher North)naturelake districtreverieessay
- 130Buy a Broom? — Thomas Airdstreet lifepovertysongpoem
- 154A Retrospective Review — Thomas Hoodchildhoodmemorylosspoem
- 155To Blossoms — Robert Herricktransienceflowersbeautypoem
- 156The Enchanter Faustus and Queen Elizabeth — Blackwood's Magazinemagichistoryfantasyfiction
- 159To a Highland Girl — William Wordsworthyouthscotlandnaturepoem
- 160The Poet's Dream — Lord Lyttonimaginationvisionpoetrypoem
- 161On the Moral Qualities of Milton — William Ellery Channingmiltonvirtuegeniusessay
- 164Song from Faust — Goetheloveinnocencefatesong
- 165On Impudence and Modesty — David Humemannerspsychologysocietyessay
- 165Stanzas — Anne Radcliffemelancholynaturepoem
- 166Human Life — Samuel Rogerslifetimememorypoem
- 166The Gray Hair — Alaric A. Wattsagememorymortalitypoem
- 167Out with the Herring-Fishers — Hugh Millersealaborscotlandsketch
- 170Haidee — Lord ByronFrom "Don Juan."lovethe aegeanromancepoem
- 174The Dean of Santiago — From the SpanishAfter Don Juan Manuel.ambitionmagicfablefiction
- 176The Two Fountains — Thomas Mooreloveallegorypoem
- 177Master and Man — Thomas Crofton Crokerirelandfolklorehumorfiction
- 179The Knitter — Sir John Bowringlabordomesticpatiencepoem
- 180To My Honoured Kinsman — John Drydencountry lifepraiseindependenceepistle
- 182The Philosophy of Sorrow — D'Arcy Wentworth Thompsongriefphilosophyconsolationessay
- 184The Comforter — Thomas Mooreconsolationfaithgriefpoem
- 185Peggy Nowlan — John Banimirelandlovehardshipfiction
- 192The Banks of Clyde — Andrew Parkscotlandriverhomepoem
- 192The Spate, a Tale of the Clyde — Thomas Atkinsonfloodscotlandperilfiction
- 197Evening — Alaric A. Wattseveningcalmnaturepoem
- 198To J*** H***, Four Years Old — Leigh Huntchildhoodaffectioninnocencepoem
- 199A Dirge — George Croly (Rev.)deathmourningelegy
- 199A Family Scene — Susan Edmondstone Ferrierfamilyscotlandmannersfiction
- 202Baby May — W. C. Bennettinfancytendernesshomepoem
- 203Baby's Shoes — W. C. Bennettinfancygriefmemorypoem
- 203The Brigand of the Loire — Alexander Sutherlandfranceadventuredangerfiction
- 211Fate — Ralph Waldo Emersonfatewillnaturepoem
- 211The Romany Girl — Ralph Waldo Emersonfreedomgypsynaturepoem
- 212To a Sky-lark — James Hoggbirdsjoynaturepoem
- 212Scene from "The Tryal," a Comedy — Joanna Bailliecomedycourtshipwitdrama
- 214Sonnet — Henry Kirke Whitemortalityhopesonnet
- 215To the Moon — John Keatsmoonbeautynightpoem
- 215Servian Lyric — Sir John Bowringlovefolk songtranslationpoem
- 216Journal of a Lady of Fashion — Countess of Blessingtonsocietyfashionironysatire
- 219Hymn — Before Sunrise in the Valley of Chamouni — Samuel Taylor Coleridgemountainsawethe divinehymn
- 220The Friend of Humanity and the Knife-grinder — George Canning (Right Hon.)politicssatirepovertysatire
- 220Vulgarity and Affectation — William Hazlittmannerstastecriticismessay
- 224The Jester Condemned to Death — Horace Smithwitdeathironypoem
- 224The Summer Morning — John Claremorningrural lifenaturepoem
- 225The Horn-book? — K. A. PratzelAuthor as printed in the index; attribution unconfirmed.childhoodlearningantiquityessay
- 233Across the Sands of Dee — Charles Kingsleyseadrowninggriefballad
- 234Laura's Bower — Leigh Huntlovegardenbeautypoem
- 234Extracts from the Correspondence of Cowper — William Cowperdomestic lifewitfriendshipletters
- 240Cupid Taught by the Graces — Anonymouslovemyththe gracespoem
- 240A Choice — George Godfrey Cunninghamlovepreferencewitpoem
- 240The Adopted Child — Felicia Hemanschildhoodlosshomepoem
- 241My Namesake — Theodore Martinidentityhumorreflectionpoem
- 251Winstanley, a Ballad — Jean Ingelowsealighthousesacrificeballad
- 254The Counterparts — Anonymousdoublesfatemysteryfiction
- 258Human Life — Bernard Bartonlifefaithreflectionpoem
- 258Polish Superstitions? — Mrs. BaillieAuthor as printed in the index; attribution unconfirmed.folklorepolandcustomessay
- 259The Sick Child — John Struthersillnesschildhoodtendernesspoem
- 260Selling Flowers — Mrs. Henry Woodpovertycity lifepathosfiction
- 267Sonnet, To a Ladye — William Dunbarlovescotlandpraisesonnet
- 267Sonnet, the Fear of Death — Sir Philip Sidneydeathfaithcouragesonnet
- 267Sonnet, Degeneracy of the World — Drummond of Hawthorndendeclinevirtuetimesonnet
- 267Sonnet, To Mr. Lawrence — John Miltonfriendshipleisurevirtuesonnet
- 267Sonnet, Worldliness — William Wordsworth"The world is too much with us."naturematerialismlosssonnet
- 268Sonnet, On the Grasshopper and Cricket — John Keatsnatureseasonspoetrysonnet
- 268Fact and Fiction — Thomas Doubledaytruthimaginationliteratureessay
- 272Ballad of Cresentius — Letitia Elizabeth Landon (L. E. L.)romemartyrdomtragedyballad
- 273The Graves of a Household — Felicia Hemansfamilydeathdispersalpoem
- 273The Screen, or "Not at Home" — Mrs. Opiemannershypocrisysocietyfiction
- 277The Seven Sisters — William Wordsworthsisterstragedynatureballad
- 278The Mother's Heart — Caroline Nortonmotherhoodlovelosspoem
- 278My Babes in the Wood — Sarah Piattchildrenmemorylosspoem
- 279Martha the Gipsy — Theodore Hookprophecyfatesuperstitionfiction
- 287Searching after God — Thomas Heywoodfaithseekingthe divinepoem
- 288Masaniello, the Fisherman of Naples — Anonymousrevoltnaplesthe peoplehistory
- 290On Revisiting the Scenes of My Infancy — John Leyden (Dr.)memorychildhoodhomepoem
- 291Mrs. Mellor's Diamonds — George Augustus Salasocietyintriguejewelsfiction
- 298Home at Last — Tom Hood (the Younger)homereturnrestpoem
- 298Stanzas — Caroline Bowles Southeysolitudenaturemelancholypoem
- 299The Rustic Wreath — Mary Russell Mitfordvillage lifenatureenglandsketch
- 302Wyoming — Thomas CampbellFrom "Gertrude of Wyoming."americafrontierelegypoem
- 302Death of Gertrude — Thomas Campbelllovedeathwarpoem
- 303School Friendship — James Smithfriendshipyouthmemoryessay
- 306The Ocean Grave — Mrs. John Hunterseadeathmourningpoem
- 307The Fall of the Leaf — Thomas Hoodautumntransiencemortalitypoem
- 309Fidelity — From the Spanishloyaltylovetranslationpoem
- 309Verses — Andrew Marvellreflectionvirtuepoem
- 310Madame Simple's Investment — Anonymousmoneyfollyhumorfiction
- 316Song — The Old Man — Henry Neeleagememorytimesong
- 316The Red-nosed Lieutenant — William Maginn (Dr.)militaryhumorcharacterfiction
- 319The Wall-flower — John Langhorne (Rev.)flowersconstancyruinspoem
- 320At the Shrine? — B. OrmeAuthor as printed in the index; attribution unconfirmed.devotionfaithitalypoem
- 323Peace and War — Percy Bysshe Shelleypeacewarhumanitypoem
- 323Trifles — Hannah Moremannersmoralitysmall thingsessay
- 324Rouge-et-Noir — Horace Smithgamblingfortuneruinfiction
- 329On the Instability of Youth — Lord Vauxyouthchangeagepoem
- 330London — Lord Macaulaylondoncityhistoryhistory
- 337Laura in Heaven — Petrarchlovelossthe beyondpoem
- 337An English Landscape — George Eliotlandscapeenglandnaturedescription
- 338Juggling Jerry — George Meredithvagrancymortalitythe roaddramatic monologue
- 340The Dwarf and the Invisible Cap — George Godfrey Cunninghamfolkloremagicfablefiction
- 341The Education of Bacchus — George Croly (Rev.)mythantiquitythe vinepoem
- 341May Morning at Ravenna — Leigh Huntspringitalyhistoryessay
- 342Medicine and Morals — Isaac D'Israelimedicinemoralityanecdoteessay
- 344From the Arabic — Anonymousthe eastwisdomtranslationpoem
- 344The Scottish Sacramental Sabbath — James Hislopscotlandworshipthe covenantpoem
- 346Little Dominick — Maria Edgeworthchildhoodirelandkindnessfiction
- 350Lament for her Husband — Mrs. Opiewidowhoodgriefloveelegy
- 351The Fags' Revolt — Thomas HughesFrom "Tom Brown’s School Days."schoolboysrebellionfiction
- 357The Vicar — Winthrop M. Praedvillageclergycharacterpoem
- 358To a Beloved Daughter — Henry Alfordfatherhoodloveblessingpoem
- 358My Plea — Alice Carylovelongingtendernesspoem
- 359The White Boat — Émile Souvestrebrittanysealovefiction
- 370Song — "Gather ye Rose-buds" — Robert Herricktransienceyouthcarpe diemsong
- 370The Sleep — Elizabeth Barrett Browningdeathrestfaithpoem
- 371Alfred the Truth-teller — Charlotte Mary Yongeenglandkingshipvirtuehistory
- 375The Forging of the Anchor — Samuel Fergusonlaborthe seaironpoem
- 377English Literature — Francis Jeffreyliteraturecriticismenglandcriticism
- 380The Gondola Glides? — Thomas Kibble HerveyAuthor reading from the printed index; unconfirmed.veniceromancenightpoem
- 381Right at Last — Elizabeth Gaskellhonestymarriagetrustfiction
- 386The Exchange — Samuel Taylor Coleridgeloveexchangeheartspoem
- 387Robin Hood at Sherwood Forest — Michael Draytongreenwoodenglandlegendpoem
- 388The Story of Marullo — Shirley Brooksitalyintriguedramafiction
- 392Song of the Virgins of Israel — William Sothebyscripturelamentisraelpoem
- 393A Good Word for Winter — James Russell Lowellwinterseasonsnatureessay
- 397The Soldier's Home — Robert Bloomfieldsoldieryhomereturnpoem
- 398The Great Storm of 1703? — Daniel DefoeAuthorship of the account as carried by the index; unconfirmed.stormdisasterenglandhistory
The steel engravings
- Three Portraits — Bryant, Thackeray, MacaulayFrontispiece
- The Fair VenetianEngraved Title
- Rabp. 16
- Cleopatrap. 48
- The Poet's Dreamp. 160
- The Clyde, from Erskine Ferryp. 192
- Cupid Taught by the Gracesp. 240
- Naples, from the Westp. 288
- The Shrine — Roman Statesp. 320
The leaves
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Provenance. Title-page library stamp: "Arthur C. Dawson, Assistant in Modern Languages, Swarthmore College, Penna."
Public domain. Published 1881; all selections predate 1929 — firmly in the US public domain.