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One of the most famous of Honore de Balzac’s novels, “Lost Illusions” paints a faithful picture of the spectacular but superficial world of mid-19th century French society, and the indissoluble relationship between the bourgeois and aristocratic classes. Originally published serially from 1837 to 1843, the story features the main characters Lucien Chardon, a vain and naïve poet and journalist, and his friend and brother-in-law David Sechard, an innovative, hard-working young printer from the provincial Angouleme, with aspirations to revolutionize the production of paper and provide for his new family. The victim of a callous father and unscrupulous competitors, David finds himself in constant turmoil from the reckless exploits and betrayals of his friend Lucien. Lucien, in contrast, is full of grand dreams and aspirations and must leave for Paris as the result of a scandalous affair. He seeks fame and fortune in the city as a poet, while his impetuous actions wreak havoc for many at home. Readers will be drawn to the intertwined stories of these two men in a novel that exemplifies the eternal battles of love, ambition, greed, loyalty, vanity, and betrayal. This edition follows the translation of Ellen Marriage and includes a biographical afterword.

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Sir James George Frazer developed an affinity for classic literature at a young age, which developed into a very real talent through his schooling at Glasgow University and then Trinity College at Cambridge, where he remained as a Classics Fellow for all but one year of his life. After the success of his first novel, “Totemism”, in 1887, Frazer set out to create what was to become his defining work, “The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion”. Originally a two-volume edition, the work expanded into multiple volumes, which in 1922 he edited down to the most widely-read abridged version, which has been reproduced here for this edition. It was initially celebrated as a remarkable study of comparative anthropology, but was later discredited by scientists because Frazer did not follow standard scientific procedures. Nevertheless, it could not be denied that the work was an incredible literary accomplishment. “The Golden Bough” is an important work which has heavily influenced many modern writers and philosophers.

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Considered to be one of the most difficult poems in the history of the English language, “The Faerie Queen” by Edmund Spenser is a marvelous epic poem depicting the virtues of the legendary King Arthur and his knights in a mythical place called Faerieland. Spenser based his interpretation of the virtues on those named by Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas. Each one of the books discusses a different hero who displays one of these virtues; however, this entire collection was meant to be a tribute to Queen Elizabeth and the Tudor family. The stories are intricate and sometimes hard to understand. The language follows Spenserian prose and is intentionally archaic; Spenser wanted his work to have a mythical feel rather than being a modern piece. Each work was specifically chosen to evoke a certain feeling or image, allowing Spenser to make the world of Faerieland have an enchanting feeling. All readers who make their way through the text find that they are rewarded by the epic poem’s masterful plots and inventive setting. Students of history and literature will enjoy this timeless classic for its challenging rhetoric, but also for its vivid depictions and stunning allegorical significance. This edition is thoroughly annotated by David Laing Purves.

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This work contains two separate biographical accounts of Charlemagne, or Charles the Great, the man considered to be the father of Europe. One account was penned by the French, medieval biographer, Eginhard, who in 791 joined the royal court to serve as an epic poet, grammarian, mathematician, architect, and ultimately a confidante to the King. Eginhard’s work is believed to be the most accurate portrayal of Charlemagne, and perhaps more importantly, as the finest biography of its time. This edition also contains the highly anecdotal “life” of Charlemagne, penned by the Monk of Saint Gall, who is now commonly believed to be Notker the Stammerer. This monk, a native-German speaker, wrote the volume at the request of Charles the Fat, great-grandson of Charlemagne. Although its accuracy has been scorned by historians, several of the monk’s amusing and witty tales have been revived in modern biographies of this powerful monarch.

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First published originally in German in 1921, “Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus” is the only book-length philosophical work by Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein published during his lifetime. Based upon notes made during his time serving in World War I, the treatise is composed of 526 numbered declarative statements that are presented without argument and were seen by Wittgenstein as being self-evident. Wittgenstein’s style is succinct and sparse and his ideas are presented in a highly logical, organized, and scientific manner. Wittgenstein proposes that the solution to all major philosophical problems can be solved only with logic and a scientific analysis of language and its meaning. His idea that philosophy is not about metaphysics and mysticism, but about critical and rational thought led to a massive shift in philosophical theories after its publication. The treatise was influential with many of the “logical positivists” of the Vienna Circle, such as Rudolf Carnap and Friedrich Waismann, and to philosophers such as Bertrand Russell. Considered one of the most significant and influential philosophical works of the twentieth century, this treatise is an important read for any student of the history of language and ideas.

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“The Underdogs: A Novel of the Mexican Revolution” is Mariano Azuela’s fictional account of the Mexican Revolution. Originally published as a newspaper serial in 1915, then as a complete novel in 1920, it was first translated into English in 1929 and was a critical and financial success. Based closely on Azuela’s own experiences, it is the story of Demetrio Macias, a peasant who is mistreated by government soldiers and must flee his home. He runs to the mountains and forms a group of revolutionaries to help overthrow the corrupt dictator, Porfirio Diaz. Macias and his comrades are a motley group of outcasts who are often unsure of what precisely they are fighting for and are sometimes no better than the cruel government they are rebelling against. Rather than a simple struggle of honorable peasants against an unjust government, Azuela’s tale is sophisticated and nuanced and captures in stunning detail the lives of the poor, the passion of the revolutionaries, and the heartbreaking disillusionment they must often face. In Azuela’s depiction of Demetrio Macias, he captures the complicated spirit of the Mexican people and his masterful telling of this conflict between the rebels and the federales helped to establish him as one of Mexico’s preeminent novelists.

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Originally published in German in 1844, philosopher Max Stirner’s “The Ego and Its Own” is an important and influential work that harshly criticizes Christianity and nationalism as well as the emerging movements of liberalism and socialism. Stirner’s work is viewed by historians as essential to the development of modern theories of anarchism, existentialism, and nihilism. Stirner viewed with contempt the enslavement of the mind of the individual by the rigid dogma of religion and nationalism. These ideas robbed the individual of free thought and autonomy and prevented people from realizing their true potential. The solution to this enslavement and control is the application of an egoism that rejects all religious rules, laws of the state, traditional morality, the concerns of family and friends, and even one’s own desires. Stirner argues that people must seek true freedom in the form of a new social structure that is essentially temporary and where no one is subjected to the self-interest of anyone else. This enduring and spirited defense of individual freedom against the control of the state and church remains required reading for students of politics and for all who value personal liberty. This edition follows the translation of Steven T. Byington.

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Émile Durkheim is often referred to as the father of sociology. Along with Karl Marx and Max Weber he was a principal architect of modern social science and whose contribution helped established it as an academic discipline. “The Division of Labor in Society”, published in 1893, was his first major contribution to the field and arguably one his most important. In this work Durkheim discusses the construction of social order in modern societies, which he argues arises out of two essential forms of solidarity, mechanical and organic. Durkheim further examines how this social order has changed over time from more primitive societies to advanced industrial ones. Unlike Marx, Durkheim does not argue that class conflict is inherent to the modern capitalistic society. The division of labor is an essential component to the practice of the modern capitalistic system due to the increased economic efficiency that can arise out of specialization; however Durkheim acknowledges that increased specialization does not serve all interests equally well. This important and foundational work is a must read for all students of sociology and economic philosophy. Presented here is the translation of George Simpson.

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First published in 1923, “The Lost Keys of Freemasonry” or “The Legend of Hiram Abiff,” by Manly P. Hall is an illuminating and informative explanation of Freemasonry symbolism and ritual. Hall was born in 1901 in Ontario, Canada and moved to California in 1919 and was immediately drawn into studying Christian mysticism, esoteric arts, world religions, and Greek philosophers. He began publishing numerous books on Freemasonry and mysticism in the 1920’s though he himself did not become a Mason until 1954. Hall achieved fame with the publication of his book “The Secret Teachings of All Ages” in 1928 and became a celebrated author, lecturer, astrologer, and mystic. In “The Lost Keys of Freemasonry,” one of his first works, Hall delves deeply into the complex symbolism of the ancient order and explains the degrees in the fascinating and secretive organization. Hall examines the various symbols and their deeper mystical meanings and its connection to ancient traditions and spiritual beliefs. This guide, a fascinating insight into this ancient order, is helpful to new and experienced Freemasons alike.

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First published in 1923, “The Art Spirit,” by famed artist and teacher Robert Henri, has been an important and influential guide to aspiring artists for nearly one hundred years. Born Robert Henry Cozad in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1865, Henri studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia, the Académie Julian in Paris, and the Ѐcole des Beaux Arts before returning to America and eventually teaching at the Philadelphia School of Design for Women beginning in 1892. Henri was an immensely popular and inspirational teacher and attracted a large group of followers who enjoyed meeting with him to discuss art and culture. Henri became a leader of the Ashcan School of American realism and encouraged his students and peers to create new, more realistic art which reflected their lives and experiences. “The Art Spirit” is a collection of Henri’s teachings, words of wisdom, and views on the place of the art and artist in American society and culture. It also contains insightful and valuable technical advice for every art student. This timeless and classic work is an engaging read for anyone who enjoys and appreciates art.

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