Essays Letters category: 7676 books

This is the seminannual Able Muse Review (Print Edition) - Winter 2015 issue, Number 20. This issue continues the tradition of masterfully crafted poetry, fiction, essays, art & photography, and book reviews that have become synonymous with the Able Muse—online and in print. After...

These essays on urbanity were written between 1997 and 2014. Most, though not all, have to do with Los Angeles, a city much loved and much maligned, and justly so in either case. Although Sustainable City News, first home of most of these observations, is devoted to the structures of cities, these...

Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow is a collection of humorous essays by Jerome K. Jerome. The essays cover a range of topics from "On Being in Love" to "On Furnished Apartments" to "On Getting on in the World". Jerome established himself as one of England's favorite wits with his comic novel Three Men in a Boat.

This delightful collection brings together five short stories and eight essays on writing by Newbery Medal–winning author Nancy Willard Nancy Willard’s gift for bringing out the whimsical in all of us illuminates this memorable anthology. “ ‘Who Invented Water?’ ” celebrates...

One-time winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, John Galsworthy is best known as a prolific novelist and playwright who created the sweeping historical epic series known as the Forsyte Saga. The Inn of Tranquility collects a representative cross-section of his work, including short stories, essays, and autobiographical recollections.

The Best American series is the premier annual showcase for the country’s finest short fiction and nonfiction. This special edition contains selections from the following 2015 editions: The Best American Essays edited by Ariel Levy The Best American Mystery Stories edited by James...

A cup of inspiration, a dash of understanding, and a generous serving of wisdom for writers new and old. From the desk of writer and editor Deborah J. Ross comes a collection of warm, insightful essays on the writing life:  including getting started, negotiating with the Idea Fairy and creating...

This landmark collection, brimming with his signature wit and incomparable sensibility, is Larry McMurtry’s classic tribute to his home and his people. Before embarking on what would become one of the most prominent writing careers in American literature, spanning decades and indelibly shaping...

Ambrose Bierce was well known for his biting wit and cynical approach to life. A Cynic Looks at Life is a collection of essays in which he talks about modern civilization and all its faults, the death penalty and many others. His arguments are still relevant to issues of today. Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce...

This 1860 sequel to the author's popular 1858 collection of essays, The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table, continues the genial, conversational quality of its predecessor. In order to continue interest in a second volume, this book is much more aggressive in tone and thought. It questions aspects of religion,...

Poul Anderson himself has put together a retrospective collection of his recent writings, fiction and nonfiction, under the title All One Universe. This is the first major Poul Anderson collection in a decade. It encompasses all his strengths as a teller of tales and, in addition, provides a running...

Upon his 1829 arrival in Granada, Spain, American author Washington Irving was immediately charmed by the city's beauty and picturesque qualities. While researching a book on the conquest of Granada, he gained access to the Alhambra Palace, which had fallen into disrepair after years of neglect....

Acclaimed by Tolstoy as "one of the greatest English writers and one of the greatest writers of our age," John Ruskin continues to enjoy widespread popularity among modern readers. In addition to his roles as art critic and patron, watercolorist, and draughtsman, Ruskin ranks among the nineteenth...

In his day, John Ruskin (1819-1900) held the power to make or break artists with his critical reviews. He served as benefactor to many artists, and was a huge supporter of the Pre-Raphaelite movement. His legacy holds the titles poet and artist as well, as he wrote works that were very popular during...