First published in 2006. The Jam Book is a practical guide to the preservation of fruit- not only jams, but also jellies, marmalades preserves, conserves, cheeses; pastes, butters, chips; crystallised, candied, and brandied fruit; fruit dried and fruit bottled. The object of preserving fruit is to ward off, exclude or neutralise those bacilli which otherwise would cause its almost immediate decay. A heavy solution of sugar; a strong acid, like vinegar; or storage in sterilised jars in whic...

"Breakfast, in 1599, was a rite "more honoured in the breach than in the observance." Most people, having supped with exceeding heartiness the previous night, ignored breakfast altogether: especially as dinner would occur some time between 10 and 12 a.m. Those who could not go long without food had no idea of a regular sit-down meal during that precious morning hour which "has a piece of gold in its mouth." They contented themselves with beaten-up eggs in muscadel wine, as now the Mountjoy...

"About four o'clock on a September morning of 1665,—when the sun was not yet shining upon his windows facing the Artillery Fields, and the autumnal dew lay wet upon his garden leaves,—John Milton awoke with his customary punctuality, and, true to his austere and abstemious mode of life, wasted no time over comfortable indolence. He rose and proceeded to dress, with the help of his manservant Greene. For, although he was but fifty-four years in age, his hands were partly crippled with gout ...

Robert Louis Stevenson emerges here as a writer of rare vitality: frail in body yet fiercely disciplined in spirit, he turned illness, hardship, and sudden fame into fiction that felt immediate, thrilling, and alive. From Treasure Island and Dr. Jekyll to Kidnapped and The Wrecker, he mastered the art of making a cry on the horizon, a glimpse of sail, or a flash of danger ignite whole worlds of adventure and suspense. Beneath the excitement lies a deep philosophy of courage, cheerfulness, ...

A Day with William Shakespeare offers an intimate, richly imagined portrait of England's greatest dramatist, tracing one June day in 1599 from the streets of London to the stage of the Globe. Shakespeare appears not as a distant monument but as a prosperous, courteous, and deeply observant man—part theatre owner, landholder, and celebrated author—moving through a city alive with booksellers, gossip, music, and the scents of flowers and herbs. His imagination is shown to be rooted in beauty...

Lord Byron was an English poet who became one of the leading figures in the Romantic Movement. Byron is still considered to be one of the most influential poets in history. This edition of May Clarissa Gillington Byron’s A Day with Lord Byron includes a table of contents.

THE CREW OF THE SKELETON SHIP. "Are those her ribs through which the Sun Did peer, as through a grate? And is that Woman all her crew? Is that a Death? and are there two? Is Death that woman's mate? "Her lips were red, her looks were free, Her locks were yellow as gold: Her skin was as white as leprosy.... The naked hulk alongside came, And the twain were casting dice." (The Ancient Mariner). Image of original dropcap that begins paragraph. IN a beautiful part of beautiful Somerset, where ...

This illustrated edition reconstructs Samuel Taylor Coleridge through the interplay of lyric, criticism, reminiscence, and visual accompaniment. Rather than presenting Romantic poetry as an isolated achievement, it places celebrated lyrics alongside searching accounts of imagination, friendship, illness, conversation, and literary reputation. The volume's range—from visionary verse and reflective prose to biographical anecdote—illuminates the tensions between the mythic Romantic figure and...

The Life and Legacy of Samuel Taylor Coleridge is a meticulously curated anthology that presents a tapestry of literary styles, ranging from the poetic elegance of the Romantic era to the incisive criticism of early 19th-century essays. At its heart, this collection encapsulates the rich and complex legacy of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, offering readers a multifaceted exploration of his life, influence, and enduring appeal. Through an engaging variety of standout pieces, the anthology invites...

A Day with Samuel Taylor Coleridge opens with the poet as a figure of mystery and radiance, then draws him into the everyday world of Nether Stowey in 1790, where poverty, domestic duty, and literary ambition struggle for balance. Through affectionate detail, it reveals his dreamy temperament, physical presence, and the tensions of a household shared with practical Sara, the young Charles Lloyd, and the steady friendship of Thomas Poole. Coleridge emerges as both charming and chronically i...

"A Day with William Shakespeare" by May Byron is a delightful exploration of the life and works of the iconic playwright. The book invites readers to step into the world of Shakespeare, offering a vivid portrayal of his daily life, the Elizabethan era, and the cultural backdrop that influenced his writing. Byron's engaging narrative style brings to life the characters and themes that populate Shakespeare's plays, making it an accessible read for both seasoned fans and newcomers to his work...

It is an April morning in 1844, in the town of Leipzig,—calm, cool, and fraught with exquisite promise of a prolific spring,—when the Herr Professor Doctor Robert Schumann, rising before six o'clock as is his wont, very quietly and noiselessly in his soft felt slippers, dresses and goes downstairs. For he does not wish to disturb or incommode his sleeping wife, whose dark eyes are still closed, or to awaken any of his three little children.The tall, dignified, well-built man, with h...