Popular American essayist, novelist, and journalist CHARLES DUDLEY
WARNER (1829-1900) was renowned for the warmth and intimacy of his
writing, which encompassed travelogue, biography and autobiography,
fiction, and more, and influenced entire generations of his fellow
writers. Here, the prolific writer turned editor for his final grand
work, a splendid survey of global literature, classic and modern, and
it's not too much to suggest that if his friend and colleague Mark
Twain-who stole Warner's quip about how "everybody complains about the
weather, but nobody does anything about it"-had assembled this set, it
would still be hailed today as one of the great achievements of the book
world. Highlights from Volume 38 include: . the poetry of Paul Verlane .
the verse of François Villon . the philosophy of Voltaire . the arts
criticism of Richard Wagner . the science writings of Alfred Russel
Wallace . the letters of Horace Walpole . the speeches of George
Washington . the writings of Daniel Webster . and much, much more.