Handorakel und Kunst der Weltklugheit

Richtiges Leben und Regeln dazu. Wertvoll und hilfreich.

I Colloqui
Abbandonati gli studi giuridici nel 1908 [Gozzano] si dedica completamente alla poesia e nel 1911 pubblica il suo più importante libro, I colloqui, i cui componimenti sono divisi, secondo un progetto ben preciso, in tre sezioni: Il giovenile errore, Alle soglie, Il reduce. Il successo avuto con I colloqui valse a Gozzano una grande richiesta di collaborazione giornalistica con importanti riviste e quotidiani, come La Stampa, La lettura, La Donna, sulle cui pagine pubblicò per tutto il 1911 sia prose che poesie.
Die schwarze Spinne
Die schwarze Spinne ist eine Novelle von Jeremias Gotthelf aus dem Jahr 1842. Eingebettet in eine idyllisch angelegte Rahmenerzählung werden alte Sagen zu einer gleichnishaften Erzählung über christlich-humanistische Vorstellungen von Gut und Böse verarbeitet. Die Novelle ist unterteilt in die am Anfang auftretende Rahmenhandlung, die jedoch später zur Binnenhandlung übertritt.
Zuerst kaum beachtet, gilt diese Erzählung bei vielen Literaturkritikern als eines der Meisterwerke des deutschen Biedermeier. Thomas Mann schrieb darüber in „Die Entstehung des Doktor Faustus“, dass Gotthelf „oft das Homerische“ berühre und dass er seine Schwarze Spinne „wie kaum ein zweites Stück Weltliterat...
Der Bauernspiegel
Der Roman Uli der Knecht von Jeremias Gotthelf (1797-1854) erschien 1841. Es handelt sich formal um einen pikaresk angelegten Roman. Die Episodenhaftigkeit ist hier als relevantes Merkmal zu nennen. Daneben ist der Roman aber als Bildungsroman/Erziehungsroman einzustufen, der - ganz im Zeichen von Gotthelfs Lehrtätigkeit - den Leser auf den richtigen Weg sowohl hinsichtlich des Geldes wie auch der Ehrfurcht vor Gott und dem Meister, führen soll.
Gossip in a Library

A collection of informal essays about books in his library. He combines commentary, translations, and humorous asides about authors and their subjects.

Father and Son

Father and Son (1907) is a memoir by poet and critic Edmund Gosse, which he subtitled “a study of two temperaments.” The book describes Edmund’s early years in an exceptionally devout Plymouth Brethren home. His mother, who dies early and painfully of breast cancer, is a writer of Christian tracts. His father, Philip Henry Gosse, is an influential, though largely self-taught, invertebrate zoologist and student of marine biology who, after his wife’s death, takes Edmund to live in Devon. The book focuses on the father’s response to the new evolutionary theories, especially those of his scientific colleague Charles Darwin, and Edmund’s gradual rejection of both his father and his father...

Quiet Talks on Prayer

An open life, an open hand, open upward, is the pipe line of communication between the heart of God and this poor befooled old world. Our prayer is God’s opportunity to get into the world that would shut Him out. (From the first chapter)

Who Was Who: 5000 BC – 1914

A short, humorous biography of famous people from 5000 BC to 1914. — S. McGaughey

From the Introduction, “The editor begs leave to inform the public that only persons who can produce proper evidence of their demise will be admitted to Who Was Who. Press Agent notices or complimentary comments are absolutely excluded, and those offering to pay for the insertion of names will be prosecuted. As persons become eligible they will be included without solicitation, while the pages will be expurgated of others should good luck warrant.”

The Vicar of Wakefield

Published in 1766, The Vicar of Wakefield follows the turbulent shift in the fortune and status of the Primrose family, as they must endure various setbacks that threaten their ultimate wellbeing and prosperity. Focusing on themes including family, prudence, resilience, religion, deception, marriage, and social status, the classic is regarded as Goldsmith’s most notable literary achievement. The novel centers on Dr. Charles Primrose, a benevolent and naive vicar, who together with his wife and six children lives an idyllic and comfortable life in the affluent town of Wakefield, owing their position to a smart investment. The upcoming wedding between their eldest son, George...

The Life of Richard Nash, Esq., Late Master of the Ceremonies at Bath
Beau Nash (1674–1762), born Richard Nash, was a celebrated dandy and leader of fashion in 18th-century Britain. He is best remembered as the Master of Ceremonies at the spa town of Bath. (Wikipedia)

This, the best of Goldsmith's Biographies, was published the year after Nash's death. It was at once popular, and went through two editions in the same year in which it was published. To the second edition (it never reached a third), Goldsmith made many important additions. Yet strange to say none of these have been attended to by the editors of his Works. The text of this reprint is that of the second edition, compared with the first. The text of previous editions has been that of a ...