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The cycle of 55 sonnets that comprise Rainer Maria Rilke’s “Sonnets to Orpheus” were written in a period of three weeks during 1922, a time which the poet himself described as a “savage creative storm.” Inspired by the death of his daughter’s friend, Wera Knoop, Rilke commenced to the production of “Sonnets to Orpheus”, a work filled with mythological and biblical allusions. During the same burst of creative energy he set to working on the completion of the “Duino Elegies”, a work begun some ten years earlier but set aside due to Rilke’s own emotional distress over the tragic events of World War I and his conscription into the Austro-Hungarian army. He wrote in a letter to the deceased girl’s mother that Wera’s ghost was “commanding and impelling” him to write. The results of this “savage creative storm” are generally considered as Rilke’s masterpieces. “Duino Elegies” is an intensely spiritual group of verses that ponders the beauty and existential suffering of life. Together these works exhibit why Rilke is widely recognized as one of the most lyrically intense of all German-language poets.

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Two late dialogues of Plato designed to be part of a trilogy that the philosopher did not finish, “Timaeus” and “Critias” utilize a few select men to theorize on the natural world and to tell a story of the lost city of Atlantis. “Timaeus” is a treatise, written in Socratic dialogue form in 360 BC, that speculates on the nature of the physical world, the purpose of the universe, properties of the universe, the creation of the world, the soul, the elements, and the golden ratio. It is followed by the dialogue “Critias”, which tells the tale of the powerful island kingdom of Atlantis. Though the people are the offspring of a god, their human nature begins to corrupt them. They attempt to conquer Athens but fail because of the Athenians’ well-ordered society. Just as Zeus begins to decree their punishment, however, the incomplete work comes to an end. Though not extant, this pair of dialogues is clearly the writing of a brilliant mind posing and considering creative ideas. This edition follows the translations with introductions of Benjamin Jowett and includes a biographical afterword.

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Written in 1542 and first published in 1552, “A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies” by Bartolome de Las Casas, a Dominican friar, is a moving and shocking account of the atrocities and mistreatment suffered by the indigenous people of South America under Spanish colonial rule. Bartolome de Las Casas, believed to have been born in 1484, immigrated to the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean from Spain in 1502 with his father and was ordained as a priest in 1510. His work with the Church gave him a startling glimpse into the cruelty and inhumanity that the native peoples were subjected to by the powerful Spaniards. Bartolome de Las Casas was determined to advocate for these oppressed people and traveled back and forth between Spain and the New World several times to bring the plight of the indigenous peoples to the attention of the King. Bartolome de Las Casas documented the ravages of the disease and greed the Spanish brought with them across the sea. “A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies” is an important and remarkable work, as well as the earliest documentation of a concerted effort to advocate for better and more humane treatment of the native people of the New World.

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“The Secret Sharer and Other Stories” is a collection of seafaring tales by famed author Joseph Conrad. In “The Secret Sharer”, a nameless captain discovers a stow-away clinging to the side of his ship and secretly brings him aboard and harbors him in his cabin. In “Typhoon”, the main character, Captain MacWhirr, decides to sail his vessel through a typhoon in the South Pacific. His bold action, at first to the protest of his crew, later earns him their admiration and respect. In “The Nigger of the ‘Narcissus’” we have the tale of James Wait, a dying West Indian black sailor whose condition seems to parallel the fate of the merchant ship ‘Narcissus’, of which he is a member of the crew. “Youth” is the semi-autobiographical story of the first voyage of Charles Marlow, the narrator of Conrad’s most famous novel “Heart of Darkness”. This quest tale finds the youthful Marlow’s nerve, strength, and patience all tested on his journey to becoming a man. A shining example of Conrad’s later literary ability, “The Shadow-Line” is his 1915 novella of a young man in his first command as a sea captain. It is a suspenseful story of a defining moment of a young life, when the indistinct line separating an inexperienced boy from a mature man becomes perfectly clear. These exhilarating nautical tales by a master storyteller portray intense trials of human spirit and the powerful demands of duty and honor. This edition includes a biographical afterword.

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The second novel of Anthony Trollope’s “Chronicles of Barsetshire” series and widely considered one of his best and most popular works, “Barchester Towers” was published in 1857 and continues the story of Mr. Harding and his daughter Eleanor in the beautiful cathedral city of Barchester. Upon the death of the popular and beloved bishop, the citizens fully expect his son, Archdeacon Grantly, to fill the vacancy. Much to their consternation, however, the far more Evangelical Bishop Proudie is given the position. A struggle for power ensues between these traditional and new forces. Mrs. Proudie, the Bishop’s overbearing wife, and the Bishop’s new chaplain, the distasteful and hypocritical Mr. Slope, use their power to control the selection of the new warden of the local hospital over the objections of the rest of the clergy. Clerical reinforcements are called in on both sides and the struggle between the different factions of the church plays out amid the romantic entanglements and dramas of the town’s inhabitants. In the end, the results are more than satisfactory for Eleanor and other citizens of Barchester in this witty comedy. This edition includes a biographical afterword.

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A cycle of twelve narrative poems, “Idylls of the King” is Alfred Tennyson’s classic 19th century retelling of Arthurian legend. Linked by their common focus, these poems relate the stories of King Arthur’s ascent to power, quest to create a perfect kingdom, and his eventual defeat. Included in this epic work are the stories of Arthur’s love for Guinevere, their marriage, and her betrayal. Much of the work is also devoted to the exploits of the knights of the round table as well as the involvement of the wizard Merlin. Tennyson relied heavily on previous Arthurian works including Sir Thomas Malory’s “Le Morte d’Arthur”, which was first published in 1485, and the “Mabinogion”, one of the earliest prose stories of Britain, one based on older oral traditions, written during the 12th century. However, “Idylls of the King” is not merely a retelling of the same stories of these previous works, but rather an expansion of the legend and an effort to bring the concerns and values of Victorian England to these timeless tales. Tennyson’s poems are a complex, beautiful, and thoughtful addition to the genre of Arthurian literature. This edition includes a biographical afterword.

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Written by Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus in 121 AD while he was the personal secretary to emperor Hadrian, “The Twelve Caesars” is a series of twelve biographies of Roman rulers beginning with Julius Caesar and ending with Domitian. The tales of Rome’s emperors are deeply personal and informative, while also entertaining and often filled with drama. Suetonius included invaluable descriptions of the rulers’ public and private lives, physical appearances, family heritages, and daily personal habits. “The Twelve Caesars” is the primary source for many of the most famous and enduring tales of ancient Rome, from Julius Caesar’s revenge on the pirates that kidnapped him, to the excesses and scandal of Caligua, to the drama of Nero’s rule, and finally to the end of the Flavian empire. The biographies have been viewed since antiquity as a very significant account of the critical era in Roman history known as the Principate period, which begins with the end of Republic, continues through the violent unrest and civil war of Nero’s rule, and is followed by the restoration of order afterwards. Fascinating and engrossing, “The Twelve Caesars” remains one of the most important historical bibliographical works of the Roman Empire.

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The “Ecclesiastical History of the English People” is considered one of the most important documents of Anglo-Saxon history and was written by Saint Bede, or Bede the Venerable, an English Benedictine monk and well-known scholar who was born around 672 AD. The work, which begins as a general history of England from the time of Julius Caesar’s invasion in 55 BC, details the rise of Christianity in England and becomes a detailed study of the different Christian churches and leaders of England. The history focuses chiefly on the conflict between Roman and Celtic Christianity from the introduction of Christianity to the Anglo-Saxon’s by Augustine of Canterbury in 597 AD until the time of the book’s completion in approximately 731 AD. In drawing upon numerous primary and secondary resources, Saint Bede creates not only an important and often accurate historical document, but also advances his own views on politics and religion, which was more supportive of the Roman church leaders than the Anglo-Saxons. One of the most important works of both English and Christian history, the “Ecclesiastical History of the English People” is a must read for scholars or students of either historical discipline. This edition follows the translation of J. A. Giles.

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First published in 1921 and awarded the first ever Newbery Medal of 1922 for its contribution to children’s literature, “The Story of Mankind” follows the history of western civilization from prehistoric times to the early 20th century. Originally written for his children, Hendrik van Loon, a Dutch-American journalist and historian, both wrote and illustrated this classic for children to learn about world history in an entertaining way. From the very beginning of mankind, the development of writing and art, the rise of world religions, to the formation of nation-states and modern politics, van Loon emphasizes the people and events central to the monumental changes and achievements of human history. Beautiful and detailed, van Loon’s epic work has withstood the test of time with its lively illustrations and warm and accessible prose, making these famous figures and grand world events relatable and interesting to children of all ages. A remarkable, accurate, and enduring work, “The Story of Mankind” is a masterpiece of children’s literature and continues to engage and inspire young readers to this day.

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Originally published in Polish in 1896 by Nobel Prize-winning author Henryk Sienkiewicz, “Quo Vadis: A Narrative of the Time of Nero" is the story of a love that develops in Rome between a young Christian woman, Lygia, and Marcus Vinicius, a Roman patrician, during the reign of Nero in 64 AD. The title “Quo Vadis” is translated from Latin as “Where are you going?” The quote is a reference to the New Testament verse John 13:36, which states “Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.” Sienkiewicz exhaustively researched the Roman Empire and the result is an incredibly detailed and believable story. The novel is one of contrasts: the violence of ancient Rome and its gladiators contrasted with the sweet and touching love story between Marcus and Lygia, and the contrast between the piety, poverty, and spirituality of the early Christians with the decadence and waste of Nero and his court. “Quo Vadis: A Narrative of the Time of Nero” is a captivating and timeless tale of love and devotion amid violence and ruin.

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