A Miscellany of Muses? There are nine of them altogether and they all make an appearance in this volume. Many readers will remember Erato and Calliope from their previous appearances in Conversations with a Muse. Here they are again, accompanied by their sisters: Melpomene the moaner, Polyhymnia the professional, unhappy Clio, dancing Terpsichore, astral Urania, Thalia the comic and Euterpe the flautist. The verses are designed to be read as one continuous story, although many of the poems stand on their own. If you have ever wondered how a famous Swedish furnishings company came by its name, why magnets never wear out, or how stardust is formed, then look no further. Answers, of a sort, to these and other questions, are to be found here. One does not need to have read the previous volume to enjoy this book. However, those who know Conversations with a Muse will meet old friends in new situations. Hopefully the reacquaintance will be a happy one!

Includes works in French language with parallel English text.

A Miscellany, confined to a private edition for decades, sheds further light on the prodigious vision and imagination of the most inventive poet of the twentieth century: E.E. Cummings. Formally fractured and yet gleefully alive and whole, E. E. Cummings’s groundbreaking modernist poetry expanded the boundaries of language. In A Miscellany, originally released in a limited run in 1958, Cummings lent his delightfully original voice to “a cluster of epigrams,” a poem, three speeches from an unfinished play, and forty-nine essays—most of them previously written for or published in magazines, anthologies, or art gallery catalogues. Seven years later, George J. Firmage—editor of much of Cummings’s work, including Complete Poems—broadened the scope of this delightfully eclectic collection, adding seven more poems and essays, and many of Cummings’s unpublished line drawings. Together, these pieces paint a distinctive portrait of Cummings’s eccentric, yet precise, genius. Like his poetry, Cummings’s prose is lively; often witty, biting, and offbeat, he is an intelligent observer and critic of the modern. His essays explore everything from Cubism to the circus, equally quick to analyze his poetic contemporaries and satirize New York society. As Cummings wrote in his original foreword, A Miscellany contains “a great deal of liveliness and nothing dead.” This remains true today, more than fifty years after its original publication.

Step into the rich tapestry of Texas folklore with Coffee in the Gourd by J. Frank Dobie. This delightful collection offers a unique glimpse into the heart of Texan culture, where coffee serves as a central theme binding together stories of resilience, humor, and tradition. As Dobie shares his captivating tales, you'll discover the vibrant characters and rich histories that shape the Lone Star State. Each story is steeped in the essence of Texas, inviting readers to appreciate the nuances of its people and landscapes. But here's the intriguing question: How does a simple cup of coffee embody the spirit of a community? Through his evocative storytelling, Dobie reveals that the act of gathering around coffee is more than a ritual; it’s a celebration of life itself. With every page, Coffee in the Gourd immerses you in tales that are as warm and inviting as a freshly brewed cup. Dobie's masterful prose transports you to lively gatherings where laughter flows as freely as the coffee, creating a sense of belonging that resonates deeply. Are you ready to sip on the rich stories that define a culture? Experience the blend of humor, wisdom, and nostalgia that makes Coffee in the Gourd a treasured read. These narratives will not only entertain but also provoke thought about the bonds that unite us as human beings. Don’t miss out on this literary journey—buy Coffee in the Gourd today and discover the heart of Texas, one story at a time!

Words Unbound draws on Milton Burke’s thirty years of teaching experience to help educators bring Inferno alive for today’s young reader. In a conversational, “colleague-to-colleague” style, Burke shares the interpretations, questions, and exercises he found effective in his high-school classroom, emphasizing group discussion to help students, no matter their religious or philosophical moorings, engage meaningfully with the notoriously difficult text.

A key text in the history of gay literature, Wings was published in 1906 to the scandalized reaction of contemporary society and the generations which followed. Its central theme of aestheticized sensuality has drawn comparisons with the work of contemporaries Oscar Wilde and André Gide. The young Vanya Smurov is deeply attached to his mentor, Dr. Larion Stroop, and to the world of Renaissance art which the latter reveals to him. Initially appalled by the sudden discovery of Stroop's homosexual leanings, Vanya abandons him to pursue a "normal" heterosexual existence. In turn disgusted by ensuing encounters, he returns to Dr. Stroop and accompanies him to Italy where he begins his real education—both in the world of art, and that of hedonism.