Search |
Harvard Classics - Reading Guide - DecemberDec 1: Berkeley's THREE DIALOGUESAre Skeptics Faulty Thinkers? Offhand we say a skeptic is one who doubts everything. But does he? And are his doubts caused by too much learning, or too little? Berkeley presents both sides of skepticism. Read from Berkeley's THREE DIALOGUES ............. Vol. 37, pp. 189-199 Dec 2: THE HOLY GRAILPractical Jokes in King Arthur's Day Attacked in fun by two masked knights, Sir Galahad smote one so that both horse and rider went down. Turning on the other jester, he slashed open his helmet. Read from THE HOLY GRAIL ................ Vol. 35, pp. 128-134 Dec 3: THE BIRTH OF THE BUDDHAMet the Gods of Ten Thousand Worlds After three awesome messengers have issued three warnings, the gods of ten thousand worlds decide who is to be the new Buddha. Then the parents, the conception, the birth of the god-child demand constant vigilance. Read: THE BIRTH OF THE BUDDHA ................... Vol. 45, pp. 603-612 Dec 4: Virgil's AENEIDThe Queen Weds a Poor Stranger Aeneas and Dido, world-famous lovers, while hunting in the forest, were trapped in a cave by a furious storm. There the marriage between the proud African queen and the homeless wanderer was completed. Read from Virgil's AENEID ................... Vol. 13, pp. 152-162 Dec 5: CHRISTINA ROSSETTI'S POEMSPoems by an Artist's Model So beautiful that many painters sought her for a model— Christina Rossetti, sister of the famous poet, Dante Rossetti, combined with her unusual beauty a rare poetic sense. Read: CHRISTINA ROSSETTI'S POEMS .................... Vol. 42, pp. 1181-1183 Dec 6: Addison's ESSAYSMoralizing as a Seductive Art "The Vision of Mirza" and "Westminster Abbey," first printed in "The Spectator," are examples of Addison's wondrous gift of expression. He leads us to higher realms. Read: Addison's ESSAYS ...................... Vol. 27, pp. 73-80 Dec 7: Plutarch's CICEROWhat Cicero Least Expected After being governor of Sicily, Cicero returned to Rome expecting a hero's welcome. When he asked what the Romans thought of his recent achievements, he received an astounding answer. Read from Plutarch's CICERO ...................... Vol. 12, pp. 222-231 Dec 8: LEVANA AND OUR LADIES OF SORROWDream Women Shaped His Destiny De Quincy imagined that three women were sent to him so that he might know the depths of his soul. Real women could not have wielded greater influence. It is fortunate that everyone does not meet these weird women. Read: LEVANA AND OUR LADIES OF SORROW ................ Vol. 27, pp. 319-325 Dec 9: THE FUGITIVE SLAVE ACTSlavery's Last Stand By the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 stringent laws were made to prevent assistance being given to any slaves attempting to escape. The antislavery answer to these laws was a perfection of the "Underground Railroad." Read: THE FUGITIVE SLAVE ACT ..................... Vol. 43, pp. 306-312 Dec 10: CELLINI'S AUTOBIOGRAPHYBenvenuto Boasts of Gallantry Taking offense at a soldier who made advances toward his favorite lady, Cellini jumped from the window, knife in hand, to avenge himself. This incident was recorded with characteristic conceit by Cellini in his amazing diary. Read from CELLINI'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY ............... Vol. 31, pp. 62-72 Dec 11: Plutarch's ALCIBIADESThe Most Dashing Figure in Athens The handsome Alcibiades, cunning in politics, bold in war, was the lion of Athenian society until he violated the secrets of a mysterious religious cult. Then all outraged Athens united to dash their idol to the ground. Read from Plutarch's ALCIBIADES ............... Vol. 12, pp. 106-117 Dec 12: BROWNING'S POEMSHow the Glorious News was Carried to Aix Three brave men began the heroic ride from Ghent to Aix. Only one man arrived to tell the thrilling story of the tempestuous ride. In one of his most bewitching poems, in lines that haunt the memory, Browning retells the story. Read: BROWNING'S POEMS ................ Vol. 42, pp. 1066-1068 Dec 13: DRAKE'S VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLDTo the South Seas with the Gallant Drake A famous voyage was Sir Francis Drake's around the world. Drake's crew, the first white men to visit many parts of the world, received amazing receptions from the natives. Read from DRAKE'S VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD ........ Vol. 33, pp. 199-208 Dec 14: MARVELL'S POEMSPastoral Poems and Politics The many-sided Marvell, who wielded a pen that was both feared and courted, is seen at his best in stirring verse. "A Garden," "Prospect of Flowers," with the "Horatian Ode upon Cromwell," show the power of his genius. Read: MARVELL'S POEMS .................... Vol. 40, pp. 370-379 Dec 15: Homer's ODYSSEYOdysseus Talks with Ghosts This is another of those marvelous and unforgetable tales of the wandering Odysseus. The fantasy takes him into regions where he discourses with deceased heroes. Read from Homer's ODYSSEY ................... Vol. 22, pp. 145-153 Dec 16: Burke's THE SUBLIME AND BEAUTIFULHow Man's Courtship Differs from Animal's Beauty is an important factor in the attraction between man and woman. It is knowing beauty that differentiates man from the animals, which only require that their mates be of the same species. Read from Burke's THE SUBLIME AND BEAUTIFUL ............ Vol. 24, pp. 37-48 Dec 17: CONFESSIONS OF ST. AUGUSTINEDies on the Eve of Her Son's Conversion The mother of St. Augustine prayed unceasingly for her son's conversion. The most touching, most soul-revealing writing St. Augustine did is in the description of his mother's death. Read from CONFESSIONS OF ST. AUGUSTINE .......... Vol. 7, pp. 150-160 Dec 18: SOME THOUGHTS CONCERNING EDUCATIONFor a Gentleman Every schoolboy asks: "What's the use of learning Latin?" John Locke, one of the greatest educators of all time, maintains that Latin is absolutely essential to a well-bred gentleman, and explains why. Read from SOME THOUGHTS CONCERNING EDUCATION ............ Vol. 37, pp. 136-145 Dec 19: Milton's SAMSON AGONISTESSamson Finds a Champion The mighty Samson was blinded while a captive of the Philistines. He sought revenge—a revenge devastating and cosdy. Milton, himself a giant of intellect, blind and imprisoned, wrote of this sightless giant of other days. Read: Milton's SAMSON AGONISTES ................ Vol. 4, pp. 444-459 Dec 20: Herodotus' AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPTEgypt Visited by the First Reporter All phases of life were pictured by Herodotus in his history. Like a modern newspaper reporter, he combines weird stories, scandals, and battle accounts with descriptions of places, persons, and sights about town. Read from Herodotus' AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT ............ Vol. 33, pp. 7-17 Dec 21: Bunyan's PILGRIM'S PROGRESS"Madam Bubble" Not to Be Discouraged "Madam Bubble," or this vain world, presented both herself and her purse to the wayfarer. Repulsed and scorned, yet she serenely flaunts her bribes enticingly before his bewildered eyes. Read from Bunyan's PILGRIM'S PROGRESS ............. Vol. 15, pp. 306-318 Dec 22: Darwin's VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLERubbing Noses in New Zealand Darwin, in exploring New Zealand, finds cannibalism, tattooing, and many weird customs among the natives. Instead of shaking hands, the salutation is by rubbing noses. Read from Darwin's VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE ........... Vol. 29, pp. 425-434 Dec 23: Sainte-Beuve's WHAT IS A CLASSIC?Saved from a Bonfire of Books If all the books in the world were on fire, some men would risk their lives to save certain priceless writings: the world's classics. Sainte-Beuve here tells why. Read: Sainte-Beuve's WHAT IS A CLASSIC? ............ Vol. 32, pp. 121-133 Dec 24: HOLINSHED'S CHRONICLESChristmas Made a Dull Day Before the Reformation in England almost every third day was a holy day. But the Puritans abolished all the holy days, even Christmas. Read from HOLINSHED'S CHRONICLES .......... Vol. 35, pp. 266-270 Dec 25: GOSPEL OF ST. LUKEThe Christmas Story Luke was a Greek physician, a man of culture, trained in the best universities of the ancient world. He became imbued with the spirit of Christ, and wrote the most beautiful story of the birth and life of Jesus. Read from the GOSPEL OF ST. LUKE ........... Vol. 44, pp. 357-360 Dec 26: Shakespeare's KING LEARSilence Cost Her a Kingdom Cordelia, daughter of old King Lear, could not convince her father of her love for him. Afterward, when misfortunes made him accept her aid, he learned too late of her real devotion. Read from Shakespeare's KING LEAR .......... Vol. 46, pp. 288-300 Dec 27: Darwin's VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLEMillion-Year-Old Islands It was the new-old lands that Darwin visited on his voyage of the "Beagle." The strange specimens of prehistoric life he saw there made the world gape and shudder. Read from Darwin's VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE ......... Vol. 29, pp. 376-389 Dec 28: DRAKE'S GREAT ARMADAHo! for the Spanish Main! Drake with a fleet of twenty-five ships and twenty-three hundred men sets sail to plunder and lay waste Spain's treasure hoards in the New World. Gold and silver bar, nuggets and jewels awaited the bold adventurers. Read from DRAKE'S GREAT ARMADA ............. Vol. 33, pp. 229-240 Dec 29: Homer's ODYSSEYThese Guests Outstayed Their Welcome After twenty years' absence, Odysseus returned home to find his house filled with strangers rioting and wasting his treasure. Crafty Odysseus, with the aid of his son and the gods, devised a bold plan to rid his home of the unwelcome guests. Read from Homer's ODYSSEY ...................... Vol. 22, pp. 296-309 Dec 30: Dana's TWO YEARS BEFORE THE MASTDana Meets a Tattooed Sailor Dana's description of the picturesque, pre-gold-rush California is unique. While he was on the Pacific coast he met a British sailor who was elaborately tattooed and of an unforgetable appearance and personality. Read from Dana's Two YEARS BEFORE THE MAST ............... Vol. 23, pp. 77-86 Dec 31: Carlyle's INAUGURAL ADDRESSCuriosity and Interest as Guides to Reading The most unhappy man, Carlyle says, is the man who has no real work—no interest in life. To avoid this miserable state, he advises faithful and diligent reading along the lines dictated by curiosity and interest. Read from Carlyle's INAUGURAL ADDRESS ............ Vol. 25, pp. 364-374 |