Bob Blaisdell

The story behind the origins of Anna Karenina and the turbulent life and times of Leo Tolstoy. Anna Karenina is one of the most nuanced characters in world literature and we return to her, and the novel she propels, again and again. Remarkably, there has not yet been an examination of Leo Tolstoy specifically through the lens of this novel. Critic and professor Bob Blaisdell unravels Tolstoy's family, literary, and day-to-day life during the period...

The legendary outlaw and his merry men spring to life again, thrilling young readers with feats of daring and valor. Join Robin, Little John, Friar Tuck, Maid Marian, and the other Sherwood Forest denizens in their struggle against the wicked Sheriff of Nottingham and their pursuit of freedom and justice.

"There is no such thing on earth as an uninteresting subject; the only thing that can exist is an uninterested person," declared the philosopher and wit G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936). The extent and variety of the author's writings―comprising journalism, history, biography, apologetics, poetry, plays, and detective fiction―attest to his own diversity of enthusiasms. This rich and thought-provoking anthology draws from Chesterton's vast treasury...

This compact volume offers a broad selection of the most important documents in American history: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Emancipation Proclamation as well as presidential speeches, Supreme Court decisions, Acts and Declarations of Congress, essays, letters, and much more. The compilation of more than 150 documents, dating from 1606 to 1865, starts with the First Charter of Virginia, issued by King James I, and concludes...

"All I have learned, I learned from books," declared Abraham Lincoln, and this book offers ample learning from the sixteenth president's wise and often witty remarks. Drawn from speeches, letters, and other sources, these thoughts and opinions range from considerations of human nature and spirituality to the burdens and privileges of the presidency along with many other topics of enduring interest. Selections include comments on morality ("It has...

Works by more than 60 Irish poets, from 18th century to modern times, include "Stella's Birthday" by Swift; Goldsmith's "Stanzas on Woman"; "The Harp that Once Through Tara's Halls" by Moore; Yeats's "To the Rose upon the Rood of Time"; "Strings in the Earth and Air" by Joyce; plus verses by lesser-known poets.

More than 700 quotations provide a running narrative by the many who lived through or died in the Civil War. The voices of the great and famous, the ordinary and the unknown, resound in these pages. Arranged chronologically and divided by specific topics and events, this well-researched volume puts a human face on history.

The great American humorist first came to national attention with the 1865 publication of this short story. Mark Twain relates the tall tale of a gambler and his high-jumping frog, Dan'l Webster. This edition features the original story, a French translation, and Twain's own re-translation of the second version, retaining the French syntax and sentence structure with amusing results.

Rich in insights and inspiration, this anthology surveys the challenges and rewards of teaching. Contributions range from essays by renowned educators such as Pestalozzi, Froebel, Montessori, and Neill to the philosophical observations of Plato, Rousseau, Dewey, and Russell. Writings by Tolstoy, Emerson, and D. H. Lawrence appear alongside those of contemporary teachers, including Taylor Mali, Elizabeth Gold, and Philip Schultz, who reflect on their...

Remarkable for their eloquence and depth of feeling, these 82 speeches encompass 5 centuries of Indian encounters with nonindigenous peoples. Speakers include Chief Joseph, Sitting Bull, Tecumseh, Seattle, Geronimo, Crazy Horse, and many lesser-known leaders, whose compelling words are graced by forceful metaphors and vivid imagery.