Nature was the fountainhead of his inspiration and his refuge from what he considered the follies of society. Heedless of his friends’ advice to live in a more orthodox manner, he determinedly pursued his own inner bent, which was that of a poet-philosopher, in prose and verse. Carl Bode brings together the best of Thoreau’s works in The Portable Thoreau, a comprehensive collection of the writings of a unique and profoundly influential American thinker.

    This selection of Keats' poetry contains youthful verse, such as his earliest known poem ''Imitation of Spenser'' and poems from his celebrated c

    It began among the French Creoles of NewOrleans, and after the Civil War developed into a city-wide event with thevisit of the Russian Grand Duke Alexis in 1870.In this reprint of the classic work by one of Louisiana's most notableauthors, Robert Tallant examines the history and customs of Mardi Gras. Hedepicts the glittering balls, the ragtag marching clubs, the hilarious satiresof the Zulu parade, and the grandeur of Rex. The volume tells how Mardi Grashas grown from a simple celebration to become the soul of the city.Robert Tallant (1909-1957) was one of Louisiana's best-known authors, andparticipated in the WPA Writers Project during the 1930s and 1940s. BesidesMardi Gras . . . As It Was , Tallant also wrote Voodoo inNew Orleans and The Voodoo Queen . With Lyle Saxon andEdward Dreyer he co-authored the famous collection Gumbo Ya-Ya.

    

    Peretz, the acknowledged "Father of Modern Yiddish Literature, " captured the essence of Eastern European Jewish Life. He wrote of the magical quality of kindness, and the bitter fruits of blind faith. Our collection features the classic tales If Not Higher, Bontsche Shvayg and Three Gifts and a brand new translation of All for a Pinch of Snuff. It also includes a wonderful essay on this great writer and his times by Harvard Professor Ruth Wisse, author of The Modern Jewish Canon.