This collection includes: Tales from Shakespear, The Adventures of Ulysses, Mrs. Leicester’s School, The King and Queen of Hearts, Poetry for Children, and Prince Dorus. According to Wikipedia: “Charles Lamb (London, 10 February 1775 – Edmonton, 27 December 1834) was an English/Welsh essayist, best known for his Essays of Elia and for the children’s book Tales from Shakespeare, which he produced with his sister, Mary Lamb (1764–1847). Lamb has been referred to by E.V. Lucas, his principal biographer, as the most lovable figure in English literature, and his influence on the English essay form surely cannot be overestimated.” Cf. the recent best seller “The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society”, in which fans of Lamb figure prominently.

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Walter Whitman (1819-1892) was an American poet, essayist, journalist, and humanist. He was a part of the transition between Transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse. Born on Long Island, Whitman worked as a journalist, a teacher, a government clerk, and a volunteer nurse during the American Civil War in addition to publishing his poetry. Early in his career, he also produced a temperance novel, Franklin Evans (1842). His work was very controversial in its time, particularly his poetry collection Leaves of Grass, first published in 1855, which was described as obscene for its overt sexuality. The work was an attempt at reaching out to the common person with an American epic. He continued expanding and revising it until his death. Amongst his other works are: Drum-Taps (1865), Passage to India (1871), Two Rivulets (1872) and Specimen Days (more…)