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American writer and professor of literature at the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in New York City, Clement C. Moore is best remembered today for his timeless poem "'Twas the Night Before Christmas". Born in New York City in 1779, Moore would achieve considerable wealth by developing his large inherited estate into what is known today as the residential neighborhood of Chelsea in New York City. Having originally published these verses as "A Visit from St. Nicholas", anonymously on December 23, 1823, Clement C. Moore would acknowledge his authorship of the poem several years later in 1837. This work, arguably one of the most famous poems ever written by an American, would prove to be a profound influence on establishing the legend of Santa Claus in America and his association with gift giving at Christmas time. "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" is presented here in its entirety along with the famous illustrations by Jessie Willcox Smith that were first published in 1912 in an edition printed on premium acid-free paper.

"The Weary Blues" is the powerful and ground-breaking collection of poetry by American author Langston Hughes. An important contribution to the growing Harlem Renaissance art movement, "The Weary Blues" was Hughes' first poetry collection and was published in 1926 when the author was only 24, though some of the poems had appeared earlier in magazines. An immediate critical success, Hughes created a new form of poetry, called jazz or blues poetry, with his evocative and lyrical descriptions of the sounds and sights of a blues musician playing live. Hughes addresses the pressing social issues of racism, inequality, and political oppression while also capturing and celebrating the beauty and uniqueness of the African-American community in Harlem. In addition to the titular poem, "The Weary Blues" includes enduring classics of American poetry such as "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" and Hughes' inspiring call for equality that begins "I, too, sing America". These poems, as well as the shorter and more exuberant works, remain as relevant and powerful as when they were first written. This deeply personal, sensitive, and often melancholy collection established Hughes as one of the most important writers of the twentieth-century and continues to be celebrated and enjoyed by readers the world over. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

Samuel Johnson is famously known for single-handedly creating the first recognized dictionary of the English language, just one of many his many renowned accomplishments. The biography of this remarkable writer, dramatist, poet, and moralist was penned by his friend, James Boswell, in 1791. An immediate success upon its publication, this work has come to be considered the greatest biography produced in the English language, and has earned Boswell the reputation as a wonderfully sharp and methodical artist of the biography. The wealth of detail and charming characterization of Johnson can be attributed to Boswell's diligent journal-keeping and excellent memory. He often initiated psychologically probing conversations to explore Johnson's character. He also collected a mass of letters to and about Johnson, and worked diligently to authenticate anecdotes about the man. The result of these efforts is a charming and accurate portrait of a literary idol. This edition follows the popular abridgment of Charles Grosvenor Osgood and is printed on premium acid-free paper.

On Wild Island a group of lazy animals had captured a baby dragon and put him to work. This little dragon could fly, so they used him to ferry them across the river. He didn't like it. So went the tale that Elmer Elevator ("my father") heard from his friend, the cat, long ago. Being a kind-hearted boy, Elmer set out to rescue the dragon. With the advice of the cat, he made elaborate preparations for his secret journey, but he never dreamed what adventures were to befall him once he set foot on Wild Island. How he outwitted the lions, tigers, wild boars and other animals and freed the dragon makes an appealing and delightfully humorous tale.

English artist, illustrator, and poet Edward Lear is well known for his the volumes of limericks and nonsense poems that he published beginning with his first "A Book of Nonsense" in 1846. These clever and memorable limericks and poems were instantly popular when they first appeared and Lear followed his first volume with several more works of nonsense poetry over the course of his career. These "nonsense" works turn ordinary language and literary expectations on their head with made up words and strange and meaningless phrases. While limericks usually consist of five lines and bawdy topics, Lear's limericks vary in length and are never scandalous. Instead, they are charming and creative, combining words and images into surprising and unexpected verses. "The Owl and the Pussycat", which was first published in 1871 in "Nonsense Songs, Stories, Botany, and Alphabets", is a charming example of Lear's whimsical poetry. Also included in this volume are "The Pobble who has No Toes" and "The Quangle Wangle's Hat", all charmingly illustrated by Margaret Jervis. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper and reproduces in full color these illustrated versions of Lear's poems.

In May of 1910, "Cosmopolitan Magazine" published an article by Upton Sinclair regarding his experiences with fasting. That article was subsequently also published by the United Kingdom publication "Contemporary Review" the following month. According to Sinclair no other magazine article had attracted such public attention as this article. As a result of this outpouring of interest "Cosmopolitan Magazine" asked Sinclair to write an additional article, which was then published in the February, 1911 edition of the magazine. "The Fasting Cure" is made up from these two articles, with the addition of some notes and comments, and some portions of articles contributed to the "Physical Culture" magazine. Sinclair writes in his preface to the work that his "object in publishing this book is two-fold: first, to have something to which I can refer people, so that I will not have to answer half a dozen "fasting letters" every day for the rest of my life; and second, in the hope of attracting sufficient attention to the subject to interest some scientific men in making a real investigation of it." This edition of "The Fasting Cure" is presented to the reader as a historical work and no claim is made regarding the validity of the dietary claims made within. Readers should consult their physician before undergoing any diet. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

First published in 1925, "The New Negro" is Alain Locke's compilation of important works by early twentieth-century African American writers. Exhibiting the brilliance of early twentieth-century African American writers, "The New Negro" has been cited as one of the most important texts in the Harlem Renaissance movement. This collection includes nonfiction essays, poetry, and fiction by prominent African American writers and in its totality provides a literary rebuttal of the claims that African Americans were inferior to their white contemporaries. Throughout the compilation there is an examination of the changing roles and identity of African Americans not only in artistic life but in society more broadly speaking. In these works we find an important examination of the history of African Americans and a forceful advocacy for the expansion of civil rights and for challenging the negative racial stereotypes that have plagued the African American community. Works by such prominent writers as Countee Cullen, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Claude McKay, and Jean Toomer are included in this volume. With illustrations and designs by Winold Reiss, "The New Negro" represents a landmark work in the Harlem Renaissance movement. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

First published in 1963 and winner of the Newbery Award for excellence in children's literature the following year, "It's like this, cat" is the charming and engrossing debut novel by American author Emily Cheney Neville. The story centers on the life of Dave Mitchell, a 14-year old boy growing up in New York City in the early 1960s. Dave befriends an eccentric older neighbor, Kate, who takes care of many of the city's stray cats and he soon adopts an orange-striped tomcat from her. Affectionately called "cat" by Dave, his new companion accompanies him around town in this touching and sensitive coming of age story. Dave fights with his friend, meets a girl, tries to right some of society's wrongs, and navigates life in a new school with the help of his brave and perceptive pet. Widely heralded as one of the best novels written about adolescence in a big city, "It's like this, cat" skillfully captures the feelings, thoughts, and challenges of growing up and discovering one's identity in a busy and often indifferent world. Readers of all ages have continued to identify with Dave's journey with his loyal cat by his side. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

Often referred to as the "Iliad" of medieval Japanese literature, "The Tale of the Heike" is the epic 14th-century story of the struggle between the Taira clan and the Minamoto clan for control of Japan during the Genpei War, which lasted from 1180 to 1185. The story is told in episodes and was part of a long oral tradition in Japan of traveling bards or monks who would chant stories along to a "biwa," an instrument similar to a lute. The source of this famous tale is generally believed to have been a combination of numerous monks over many decades and cannot be attributed to a single author. The central themes are the Buddhist ideas of impermanence and karma. In haunting and evocative prose, the "The Tale of the Heike" shows how nothing lasts, the proud and mighty eventually fall, and everything is someday reduced to dust. While it is a story of warring samurais and bloody conflict, it is also tale of justice and retribution, as the evil and cruel face the rightful consequences of their actions. This enduring masterpiece, which has shaped Japanese culture and inspired countless tales of samurai, is a must-read for historians and anyone interested in this iconic warrior tradition. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper and follows the abridged translation of A. L. Sadler.

First published in 1914, "Dr. Montessori's Own Handbook" by Maria Montessori is the practical and accessible guide book to the author's famous educational approach. Montessori, born in 1870 in Chiaravalle, Italy to an educated and well-off family, became a famed Italian physician, author, and educator who applied rigorous scientific principles to the study of the schooling of young children. The result was a revolutionary approach that emphasized the importance of self-directed activity for children and that the learning environment must be adapted to the developmental level of the particular child. Montessori placed great importance on the role that physical activities have in helping children master both practical skills and abstract ideas. Montessori's methods were a radical departure from the standard educational practices in both Europe and America in the early twentieth-century and have become widely influential in how modern educators teach young children in an interactive, engaging, and vibrant environment. In "Dr. Montessori's Own Handbook," she distills her extensive knowledge and research down to its basics and explains how to apply her methods to the education of grade school children. This detailed and approachable guide is indispensable for all educators and parents practicing the Montessori method. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

Karl Marx's second volume in his monumental criticism of capitalism was prepared by Friedrich Engels from notes left for him and published in 1885 two years after Marx's death. The work is organized into the following three sections: 1. The Metamorphoses of Capital and Their Circuits, 2. The Turnover of Capital, and 3. The Reproduction and Circulation of the Aggregate Social Capital. Where the first volume of Capital focuses mainly on the worker and the industrialist, volume two turns its attention more to the owners of capital, merchants, traders, and entrepreneurs. While this work has been largely overshadowed by its predecessor as well as many of Marx's other works, its contributions to the economic analysis of commodities are undoubtedly worthy additions to the corpus of political economic theory. Though history will most likely continue to charge that Marx's recommendations for solving the inadequacies of the capitalistic system as a failure, his analysis regarding those inadequacies will most assuredly continue be considered as a highly thoughtful analysis of the impact of capitalism upon society and may yet one day help to reform the persistent injustices that seem to be inherent within such a system. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

First published in 1957, "Verbal Behavior" is the widely influential work on linguistics and behaviorism by B. F. Skinner, the renowned American psychologist, social philosopher, and author. Considered to be one of the most important psychologists of the 20th century, Skinner was the Edgar Pierce Professor of Psychology at Harvard University for nearly twenty years and expanded on his work on the study of human behavior and the use of language over decades. "Verbal Behavior" was one of his most influential published works and had a profound impact on the study of behavior and human language since it first appeared. Skinner rejected the emphasis on experimental research when studying behavior, especially verbal cues and responses, and instead focused on theory and examples drawn from literature, film, and personal experiences with family, friends, and colleagues. In this ground-breaking work, Skinner applied his theories of verbal cues and responses, and their accompanying behavioral components, to better understand why people say, write, gesture, and think the way that they do. Decades later many of Skinner's theories continue to be tested and discussed by psychologists, behaviorists, linguists, and philosophers. "Verbal Behavior" endures as a fascinating and thought-provoking examination of verbal language, the most human of human behaviors. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

First published in 1959, "The Measure of a Man" is a collection of two influential sermons given by Martin Luther King, Jr. at the first National Conference on Christian Education of the United Church of Christ at Purdue University in August 1958. The two sermons, "What is Man?" and "The Dimensions of a Complete Life", were printed together and published as "The Measure of a Man" by the Christian Education Press with the consent of King the following year. These sermons reflect ideas that King first began to develop during his days in the seminary and address what King believed to be "one of the most important questions confronting any generation". He argued that the answer to what precisely made us human and different from other animals was complicated as we are biological beings, but also beings of spirit and thought. King argued that while we are made in the image of God and thus have a connection to the divine and perfect, we are also sinners in need of divine grace from God, our Creator. King's sermons are as thought-provoking and inspiring now as when he gave them and remain an important addition to his body of work. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

First published in 1926, "Melchizedek and the Mystery of Fire" by Manly P. Hall is an in-depth examination of the role that fire plays in religion, mysticism, spirituality, and human anatomy. Hall was born in Ontario, Canada in 1901 and moved to Los Angeles, California in 1919. He was immediately drawn into the world of mysticism and esoteric philosophies. A lifetime of studying, writing and lecturing on the arcane and spiritual had begun and Hall became an important and influential figure in the metaphysical movement that gained in popularity in the United States in the 1920s. Hall would go on to write over 150 books and articles and give countless lectures and classes. In "Melchizedek and the Mystery of Fire", Hall turns his formidable intellect to exploring the relationship of fire to ancient religions, spirituality, and the human body. Hall shows the powerful allegorical significance and meaning of fire in ancient symbols, alchemy, free masonry, early mystical Christianity, numerology, and in eastern religious traditions. Fire is also important in understanding man's relationship with nature, god, and one's own inner spirit. "Melchizedek and the Mystery of Fire" remains a fascinating and thought-provoking study on the timeless and powerful symbolism of fire in human history. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

First published in 1920, "Beyond the Pleasure Principle", by world-renowned psychologist Sigmund Freud, marks a major turning point in the author's theoretical approach. Prior to this work, Freud's examination of the forces that drive people focused primarily on the sexual drive, or Eros of man, the life instinct to reproduce that is innate in all humans. Freud had attributed most of human behavior to the seeking of sexual pleasure. However, in "Beyond the Pleasure Principle" Freud moves away from these creative and pleasure-seeking impulses as the only motivator of human action to instead examine the impact on human psychology of the death drive, or Thanatos, which Freud describes as "an urge inherent in all organic life to restore an earlier state of things". Freud still believes the pleasure principle is the more dominant force, but argues as well that unpleasant experiences have a great influence on the mind and are often the source of repetitive, compulsive behaviors. Freud also revisits his earlier theory that dreams are a form of wish fulfillment as he examines the reliving of traumatic events in dreams. One of Freud's most controversial and influential works, "Beyond the Pleasure Principle" remains an important and fascinating read. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

Originally published in 1918, Arthur W. Pink's "The Sovereignty of God" is a powerful and influential work on the power of God over every aspect of human life, from the smallest specks of dust on earth to the greatest philosophical and spiritual challenges facing mankind. Born in England in 1886, Pink was little known during his own life and struggled with the day to day realities of life as a minister. He and his family moved frequently and lived in England, America, and Australia, before finally settling in Scotland, where he spent his time studying Scripture and writing books. "The Sovereignty of God" is one of his earliest works and tackles the issue of what power God has in the lives of man. Pink criticized the modern tendency to relegate God to the background and focus on science or reason as the solution to the evils plaguing the world. Pink insisted that mankind must reaffirm the absolute power and authority of God in every aspect of physical and spiritual life if man is ever to do or be good. One must begin this process by giving one's free will over to God in everyday life. The faithful will continue to find practical and clear guidance in this timeless classic. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

Considered by many to be one of the greatest adventure novels of all time, "The Thirty-Nine Steps" is Scottish author John Buchan's most successful work. Published in 1915 and set during the early days of the First World War, it is the first of Buchan's stories of Richard Hannay, a brave and honorable yet unremarkable gentleman, who finds himself mixed up in extraordinary circumstances. In "The Thirty-Nine Steps" Hannay is unintentionally drawn into a deadly plot to undermine the British war effort and assassinate the Greek Premier. Framed for murder and now a fugitive from the law, Hannay must race against time to try to stay one step ahead of his deadly pursuers and do what he can to stop the plot. Thrust into a world of spies, intrigue, and danger, the ordinary Hannay rises to the occasion and becomes a resourceful and loyal hero. Thrilling, intelligent, and clever, "The Thirty-Nine Steps" was popular and widely influential when first published and is credited with being one of the first "man on the run" stories. This classic is an exciting adventure of mystery and espionage that will thrill and delight readers both young and old. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

First published in 1774, "The Sorrows of Young Werther" is the loosely autobiographical epistolary novel by German author Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. This classically tragic story is one of unrequited love. During a stay in the fictional village of Wahlheim, Werther becomes enamored with the simple ways of the peasantry there. He meets and falls in love with the beautiful young Lotte, despite her engagement to Albert. The highly emotional Werther is overcome with grief over the fact that the one that he loves will marry another. Despite this fact, he develops a friendship with the couple over the next few months. Eventually his pain becomes so great that he must take his leave. After a time he returns, but seeing the couple now married brings his grief to an extreme that he can no longer bare, which leads to the novel's epically tragic conclusion. Cited as a major work from the "Sturm und Drang" period of German literature, which would be highly influential of the Romantic period to come, "The Sorrows of Young Werther" was Goethe's most famous work during his lifetime, one which would bring him instant international fame. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper and follows the translation of R. D. Boylan.

First passed down orally through innumerable generations of minstrels before the presence of Christianity in Scandinavia, and written down eventually by unknown poets, "The Poetic Edda" is a collection of mythological and heroic Old Norse poems. The bulk of the text was preserved for hundreds of years in the Codex Regius of Iceland, a 13th century manuscript which was largely unknown until its rediscovery in the 17th century. Upon this rediscovery it was immediately celebrated for its broad portrait of northern pagan beliefs and one of the most important sources of Norse mythology and Germanic heroic legends. Split into two parts, the work relates the stories of Norse gods in its first part and mortal heroes in its second. A fascinating collection of poems that has stirred the imagination of artists and writers for centuries, from the musical works of Richard Wagner to the fantasy of J. R. R. Tolkien, "The Poetic Edda" will surely continue to inspire readers for generations to come. Presented here is the complete translation of Henry Adams Bellows printed on a premium acid-free paper.

Generally agreed as Maugham's literary masterpiece, "Of Human Bondage" is the semi-autobiographical tale of Philip Carey. First published in 1915, the novel follows the life of Philip, who suffers from the disability of a clubbed foot, from boyhood when he is orphaned and sent to live with his aunt and uncle. Similarly Maugham was sent to live with his aunt and uncle when his mother passed away and also suffered from the disability of a speech impediment. This coming of age story traces the travels of its main character to Germany, Paris, and London, while exploring his intellectual, emotional, and psychological development. His desire to become an artist; his pursuit of a medical degree; and his relationships with four women, the destructive Mildred Rogers, fellow art student Fanny Price, the sensitive author of penny romance novels Norah Nesbit, and the daughter of befriended family man Thorpe Athelny, whose named Sally; are all chronicled throughout the novel. Ultimately "Of Human Bondage" is the story of life's struggle between ones aspirations and what is reasonably achievable. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.