• LETTER–To Lucian of Samosata Cover
      by LovelyMay In a letter to Lucian of Samosata, the author muses over Lucian's current abode in a paradisiacal setting, surrounded by beauty, laughter, and notable companions like Heine, Plato, and others who share Lucian’s wit and clarity of vision. This imaginative paradise serves as a backdrop for expressing deep appreciation for Lucian's enduring satire and wisdom, painting him as the master of mirth and contentment. The author, in a tone blending admiration with wistfulness, wonders about the joy that Lucian’s…
    • LETTER–Epistle to Mr. Alexander Pope Cover
      by LovelyMay In an epistolary tribute to Alexander Pope, the anonymous author delves into the fraught legacy of Pope's work, navigating through the criticism and admiration that have followed Pope beyond his lifetime. The author posits Pope's poetry as a garden of artistic endeavor, meticulously cultivated but relentlessly besieged by commentators and biographers akin to destructive forces. These critics, armed with their own interpretations and biases, seek to dismantle Pope's character and contributions, often…
    • LETTER–To Herodotus Cover
      by LovelyMay The author, addressing Herodotus of Halicarnassus, undertakes a quest to ascertain the truthfulness of the historical accounts provided by Herodotus. The journey leads to Britain, an island described with much intrigue, having a river called Thames, and a large city fraught with modern contrivances and a prevailing ignorance of the past. The narrative unfolds as the author initially struggles to find anyone familiar with Herodotus but eventually is directed to the City of the Priests, possibly Oxford,…
    • LETTER–To Pierre de Ronsard (Prince of Poets) Cover
      by LovelyMay In this letter to Pierre de Ronsard, the writer expresses deep admiration for Ronsard's poetry and his choice of eternal rest among the natural beauty and ancient heroes of the Elysian fields, contrasting it with the unfortunate fate of his tomb and memory through the ages. Ronsard's longing for a simple grave near the Loire, adorned only by laurel and nature, is highlighted against the reality of his tomb's destruction during the religious and revolutionary turmoil in France. The letter delves into the…
    • LETTER–To Charles Dickens Cover
      by LovelyMay The letter to Charles Dickens delves into the unique literary divide between those who favor Dickens and his contemporary, Thackeray, arguing instead for appreciation of both authors' works. The narrator identifies himself as impartial, enjoying the merits of both writers without taking sides. Despite this neutrality, the chapter critiques the extreme imitations and mannerisms of Dickens's "special devotees," who, despite their adoration, might misunderstand the breadth of his humor and the depth of his…
    • LETTER–To W. M. Thackeray Cover
      by LovelyMay In this letter to W. M. Thackeray, the author navigates the nuances of praising the works of a departed novelist, where the usual constraints of criticism—such as envy or the potential for flattery—are absent, making it easier to commend wholeheartedly. Thackeray is celebrated for his versatility and unmatched excellence in literature, noted for his unique blend of humor, pathos, and keen observation of life. Unlike contemporaries who approached writing with the methodical dedication of a desk job,…
    • Letters to Dead Authors Cover
      by LovelyMay Letters to Dead Authors by Andrew Lang is a unique and imaginative collection of fictional letters addressed to great literary figures of the past, such as Shakespeare, Dickens, and Homer. In these witty and reflective letters, Lang pays tribute to their works, explores their influence on literature and culture, and humorously engages with their characters and themes. This charming book is both a celebration of classic literature and a playful meditation on the timeless connection between readers and writers.
    • PART. XII ‑Buttered Side Down Cover
      by LovelyMay *Where the Car Turns at 18th* tells the poignant story of Eddie Houghton, a young man from a small town whose life is transformed and ultimately destroyed by his decision to join the Navy. Inspired by a vivid billboard and the persuasive pitch of a recruiting officer, Eddie leaves his idyllic small-town life, filled with soda fountains, high school achievements, and a loving mother, for the promise of adventure, travel, and manhood offered by the Navy. However, the grim realities of military life,…
    • PART. XI ‑Buttered Side Down Cover
      by LovelyMay In "Sun Dried," Mary Louise, an aspiring writer and former teacher from Escanaba, Michigan, grapples with the challenges of city life in New York and her quest to break into the magazine world. The chapter opens with a universal moment of realization for many women—the sudden need to wash their hair. This seemingly mundane act sets the stage for Mary Louise's day as she temporarily abandons her struggling story, where her hero frustratingly remains lifeless, to attend to her personal care. Amidst her…
    • PART. X ‑Buttered Side Down Cover
      by LovelyMay He put his arm about her ample waist with its unlovely bulges, and pressed his lips to hers in a kiss that was neither perfunctory nor eager, but was, somehow, grateful. Millie Whitcomb, of fancy goods and notions at Bascom's, inspired me with her comment on my last story’s too-beautiful heroine, suggesting I write about an ugly girl instead. Millie, adorned in her lavender and gray, conjures images of elegant simplicity, contrasting sharply with the usual depiction of sales clerks. Her insight leads…
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