Eccentricity exists particularly in the English, states Dame Edith Sitwell, because of “that peculiar and satisfactory knowledge of infallibility that is the hallmark and the birthright of the British nation.” Originally published in the 1930s, The English Eccentrics has lost none of its vitality and wit. We find hermits, quacks, mariners, indefatigable travelers, and men of learning. We meet the amphibious Lord Rokeby, whose beard reached his knees and who seldom left his bath; the irasci...

First published in 1948, this book may be described as Dame Edith Sitwell's personal notebook. It consists of essays on the subject of the general aspect of the plays-those great hymns to the principle and the glory of life, in which there are the same differences in nature, in matter, in light, in darkness, in movement, that we find in the universe, and in which the characters are so vast they seem each an element (Water, Hamlet; Air, Romeo and Juliet; Fire, King Lear) and which yet bear ...

The constant themes of the great poet, Birth, Death, Pity and Indignation, the unity of life, the re-birth that is brought by Spring, and the necessity for choice that informs all sentient life, are the core of this collection of poems by Dr. Edith Sitwell.The poet's awareness of the atomic age into which mankind has emerged renders more poignant and moving her assurance of the spiritual pattern behind the material facades. She knows that: "... we live now in the age of the terribl...

Hear rare recordings from some of the world's most-respected poets reading their own works: J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hoard; ee cummings, Prose Jottings; Archibald Macleish, The Old Man To The Lizard; Ted Hughes, Six Young Men; May Swenson, Naked In Borneo; Marilyn Hacker, The Dark Twin; Kenneth Patchen, 23rd Street Runs Into Heaven; Edith Sitwell, An Old Woman; Theodore Roethke, The Bat. Recording obtained and published by Rick Sheridan.

In the 20th Century War enveloped the globe on two occasions. Myriad other wars erupted, spent themselves in fury or rumbled on, decaying into untold misery and pain.Whilst The War Poets were heralded, the women poets were not much spoken of. True, their role was not on the front lines directly, in the heat and line of battle, but they were there, just behind, witnessing the wholesale slaughter of a generation in the ‘War to end all wars’.In this volume we hear just how the...

Enjoy the Beauty of Shakespeare's Sonnets "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate: " ― William Shakespeare, Shakespeare's Sonnets While William Shakespeare might be most well-known for his plays, his poetry is rich and not to be missed.

De rerum natura (On the Nature of Things) is a first-century BC didactic poem by the Roman poet and philosopher Lucretius (c. 99 BC â c. 55 BC) with the intent of explaining Epicurean philosophy to a Roman audience. The poem, written in some 7,400 dactylic hexameters, is divided into six untitled books, and explores Epicurean physics through richly poetic language and metaphors. Lucretius presents the principles of atomism; the nature of the mind and soul; explanations of sensation and t...

You ask me how I became a madman. It happened thus: One day, long before many gods were born, I woke from a deep sleep and found all my masks were stolen--the seven masks I have fashioined and worn in seven lives, -- I ran maskless through the crowded streets shouting, "Thieves, thieves, the cursed thieves."Men and women laughed at me and some ran to their houses in fear of me. And when I reached the market place, a youth standing on a house-top cried, "He is madman." I looked up to behold...

Finally, the world’s greatest writer receives the scholarly Delphi treatment. This incredible eBook offers every Shakespearean play, poem, apocryphal work and much, much more! Now you can truly own all of Shakespeare’s works and a wealth of BONUS material on your eReader, and all in ONE well-organised file. (Version 6)* concise introductions to the plays and other works* images of how the plays first appeared in print, giving your eReader a taste of the Elizabethan texts

The ultimate Shakespeare's collection targeting the most demanding readers, featuring more than 73 titles and extras, annotated, illustrated and designed specifically for your e-reader.In this carefully put together e-book, you will find:– All of Shaksepeare’s plays.– The apocrypha works.– The poems and sonnets.– Introduction and analysis for each play.– Dozens of biographical and criticism extras so that you can discover more of his personal...