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Essays, Letters & Speeches — page 27

1,400 public-domain essays, letters & speeches books, summarised. Page 27 of 30.

Cover of Consolations in Travel

Consolations in Travel

Davy, Humphry, Sir

A dying philosopher travels through Italy and the Alps, using dialogue and vision to reconcile scientific truth with spiritual immortality.

Essays, Letters & Speeches5 min read
Cover of Education and living

Education and living

Randolph Silliman Bourne

The school stands as the most vital laboratory for human nature, where the rigid walls of traditional instruction must yield to a vibrant, living child-community. True learning is identical to the act of living itself.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of Is the Vicar of Brompton a Tractarian? A Question for the Parishioners

Is the Vicar of Brompton a Tractarian? A Question for the Parishioners

Arthur Ellis

A quiet alarm rings through the pews of a mid-Victorian parish, where a concerned congregant questions whether his clergyman’s outward denials of sectarian loyalty mask a secret, dangerous devotion to the Oxford Movement.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of Practical recitations

Practical recitations

Caroline B. (Caroline Bigelow) Le Row

A compilation of literary selections designed to refine the voice and sharpen the mind, this guide serves as a practical toolkit for the student of elocution and the teacher of public speaking.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 20, No. 580, Supplemental Number

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 20, No. 580, Supplemental Number

Various

This collection captures the Victorian appetite for miscellany, blending high-minded historical inquiry with the popular sentimental fiction and lighthearted social satire that defined the era’s literary landscape.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of The Unpopular Review, Vol. 2, No. 4, October-December 1914, including Vol. 2 Index

The Unpopular Review, Vol. 2, No. 4, October-December 1914, including Vol. 2 Index

Various

This collection of essays offers a bracing, contrarian look at the political, social, and economic anxieties of late 1914. It serves as a time capsule of intellectual debate at the dawn of the First World War.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of Tirant lo Blanch

Tirant lo Blanch

Joseph Anthony Vaeth

This sprawling fifteenth-century Catalan romance captures the transition between the idealized world of medieval chivalry and the gritty, realistic sensibilities of a changing Europe. It remains a foundational work of literature, famously cited by Cervantes as one of the few books worthy of being saved from the…

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of A Word to Women

A Word to Women

Mrs. Humphry

The domestic sphere is an intricate tapestry of duty, etiquette, and quiet endurance. This guide offers a Victorian woman’s philosophy on maintaining harmony and grace within the home during a rapidly changing era.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of Letters on the Cholera Morbus.: Containing ample evidence that this disease, under whatever

Letters on the Cholera Morbus.: Containing ample evidence that this disease, under whatever

J. (James) Gillkrest

HOOK This polemic exposes the futility of quarantine during the 1831 cholera outbreaks, arguing that the disease is an environmental, atmospheric phenomenon rather than a personal contagion.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of Notes and Queries, Number 82, May 24, 1851: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc

Notes and Queries, Number 82, May 24, 1851: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc

Various

A mid-nineteenth-century repository of collective wisdom, this periodical invites readers to bridge the gaps in human knowledge through shared inquiry and meticulous documentation.

Essays, Letters & Speeches5 min read
Cover of The Buried Temple

The Buried Temple

Maurice Maeterlinck

The search for meaning in a silent universe is a perilous undertaking, yet one that reveals the hidden strength of the human spirit. By confronting our own limitations, we discover the architecture of justice.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 13, No. 374, June 6, 1829

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 13, No. 374, June 6, 1829

Various

This collection offers an eclectic glimpse into the cultural preoccupations, historical curiosities, and literary tastes of early nineteenth-century England. It serves as a fascinating, fragmented mirror of an era’s intellectual life.

Essays, Letters & Speeches5 min read
Cover of The Religion of Numa: And Other Essays on the Religion of Ancient Rome

The Religion of Numa: And Other Essays on the Religion of Ancient Rome

Jesse Benedict Carter

Ancient Rome’s religious evolution moves from the intimate, hearth-side worship of a tiny pastoral community to the grand, state-sponsored imperial cults of the Augustan era.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of The Unknown Guest

The Unknown Guest

Maurice Maeterlinck

The unseen forces of the human subconscious, once relegated to the realm of spirits and ghosts, are here brought into the light of rigorous, if speculative, inquiry. The investigation challenges the boundaries between the known world and the mysterious.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of There's Pippins and Cheese to Come

There's Pippins and Cheese to Come

Charles S. (Charles Stephen) Brooks

The quiet joys of a solitary mind are never better savored than when shared by a companion who understands the weight of a well-loved book or the simple magic of a glowing hearth.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 61, No. 377, March 1847

Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 61, No. 377, March 1847

Various

This volume gathers the intellectual currents of a Victorian era, offering a multifaceted window into mid-nineteenth-century concerns through essays, travelogues, and historical reflection. It serves as a vital record of contemporary thought, ranging from the urgent social crises of urban poverty to the exotic…

Essays, Letters & Speeches7 min read
Cover of Finger Posts on the Way of Life

Finger Posts on the Way of Life

T. S. (Timothy Shay) Arthur

Navigating the complexities of life requires a moral compass, and this collection of stories serves as a series of signposts for those seeking to walk the path of virtue through the ordinary trials of existence.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of Problems of Expansion: As Considered in Papers and Addresses

Problems of Expansion: As Considered in Papers and Addresses

Whitelaw Reid

The United States stands at a pivotal crossroads, grappling with the newfound responsibility of governing distant island territories in the wake of a war that permanently altered its global role.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of The Children

The Children

Alice Meynell

The child is a traveler through a world of its own, an "uncovenanted" being whose joys and sorrows exist in a climate entirely separate from the hurried, rationalized life of the adult.

Essays, Letters & Speeches7 min read
Cover of The Spirit of Place, and Other Essays

The Spirit of Place, and Other Essays

Alice Meynell

The world is not merely a collection of objects, but a vibrant, ringing chorus of signals—bells, shadows, and horizons—that wait only for the stillness of a receptive mind to be heard.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of What Peace Means

What Peace Means

Henry Van Dyke

Finding lasting tranquility in a world defined by conflict requires turning inward to faith and outward to the rigorous demands of justice.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 370, August 1846

Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 370, August 1846

Various

This collection of essays, reviews, and narratives serves as a window into the intellectual and cultural preoccupations of mid-Victorian Britain, blending serious political critique with lighthearted social observation and literary analysis.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of Gifts of fortune, and hints for those about to travel

Gifts of fortune, and hints for those about to travel

H. M. (Henry Major) Tomlinson

The world is far larger and more indifferent than our maps suggest, and its true beauty is found only when we stop looking for what we were promised.

Essays, Letters & Speeches5 min read
Cover of No Compromise with Slavery: An Address Delivered to the Broadway Tabernacle, New York

No Compromise with Slavery: An Address Delivered to the Broadway Tabernacle, New York

William Lloyd Garrison

No compromise with slavery is the only moral path for a nation claiming to hold liberty as its highest principle. This impassioned address demands an immediate and unconditional end to the bondage of human beings.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of True Tales of the Weird: a record of personal experiences of the supernatural

True Tales of the Weird: a record of personal experiences of the supernatural

Sidney Dickinson

A man attempts to reconcile his rational, professional life with a series of unexplained, haunting encounters. These testimonies bridge the gap between skepticism and the possibility of a world beyond the physical.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of Address to the Inhabitants of the Colonies, established in New South Wales And Norfolk Island

Address to the Inhabitants of the Colonies, established in New South Wales And Norfolk Island

Richard Johnson

HOOK Written in 1792 by the first chaplain to the New South Wales colony, this work serves as both a spiritual guidebook and a desperate plea for order among the exiled convicts of early Australia.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of Book-Lovers, Bibliomaniacs and Book Clubs

Book-Lovers, Bibliomaniacs and Book Clubs

Henry Howard Harper

Collecting fine books is a refined pursuit, yet it often descends into the absurdity of mania. This guide explores the delicate balance between genuine literary appreciation and the eccentric traps set for the unwary collector.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of Discourses of Keidansky

Discourses of Keidansky

Bernard G. Richards

To navigate the world with a sharp, irreverent, and deeply questioning mind is often a lonely business, yet it remains the only honest way to live. Through the eyes of a self-appointed social critic, existence becomes a series of paradoxes to be dismantled, poked, and held up to the light of truth.

Essays, Letters & Speeches7 min read
Cover of Ethics in Service

Ethics in Service

William H. (William Howard) Taft

The professional life is a crucible of moral choices, and those who wield authority must balance the necessity of principled leadership with the practical demands of a complex, modern society.

Essays, Letters & Speeches7 min read
Cover of Joy and Power: Three Messages with One Meaning

Joy and Power: Three Messages with One Meaning

Henry Van Dyke

Choosing the path of integrity and spiritual purpose over fleeting worldly ambition offers the only true foundation for happiness. These reflections urge a life of active, joyful devotion to the common good.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of Mountain Paths

Mountain Paths

Maurice Maeterlinck

This collection of essays serves as a meditation on the limits of human knowledge, exploring the persistent mysteries of existence, death, and the unseen forces that shape our lives. With a blend of philosophical inquiry and scientific curiosity, the author examines how the past—both ancestral and…

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of Notes and Queries, Number 168, January 15, 1853: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc

Notes and Queries, Number 168, January 15, 1853: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc

Various

A weekly Victorian clearinghouse for historical, literary, and scientific trivia, this periodical serves as a vibrant, collaborative bridge between curious minds of the nineteenth century.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of Scientific Culture, and Other Essays: Second Edition

Scientific Culture, and Other Essays: Second Edition

Cooke, Josiah P., Jr. (Josiah Parsons)

Science education requires a shift from passive rote memorization to active laboratory engagement, fostering a deeper understanding of the natural world and training the mind to observe, reason, and appreciate beauty.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of The Incarnate Purpose: Essays on the Spiritual Unity of Life

The Incarnate Purpose: Essays on the Spiritual Unity of Life

G. H. Percival

The pursuit of spiritual truth demands an active intellect, as the sincere seeker must courageously separate the essential teachings of Christ from the superstitious encrustations of history.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of The Knickerbocker, Vol. 10, No. 5, November 1837

The Knickerbocker, Vol. 10, No. 5, November 1837

Various

This collection captures the intellectual pulse of 1837 America, blending earnest civic philosophy with the romantic sensibilities and rugged frontier sketches of the era. It serves as a vivid cultural snapshot from a nation defining its own character.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 10, No. 273, September 15, 1827

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 10, No. 273, September 15, 1827

Various

This volume serves as a curated cabinet of nineteenth-century curiosity, offering a sprawling collection of essays, historical anecdotes, and practical wisdom designed to inform and entertain the inquisitive reader of 1827.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of The negro: the southerner's problem

The negro: the southerner's problem

Thomas Nelson Page

The racial landscape of the early twentieth-century American South remains a profound challenge. This collection of essays examines the historical tensions and persistent social barriers defining the lives of Black and white Southerners.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of Points of friction

Points of friction

Agnes Repplier

The world is a persistent source of friction, and these essays offer a sharp, seasoned lens through which to observe the clashing gears of modern society, history, and human nature.

Essays, Letters & Speeches7 min read
Cover of The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 11, No. 66, April, 1863: A Magazine of Literature, Art, and Politics

The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 11, No. 66, April, 1863: A Magazine of Literature, Art, and Politics

Various

This collection serves as a vibrant, kaleidoscopic mirror of the American spirit during the Civil War, weaving together urgent political debate, personal reminiscence, and the quiet pursuits of art and natural science.

Essays, Letters & Speeches5 min read
Cover of The doctor, &c., vol. 6 (of 7)

The doctor, &c., vol. 6 (of 7)

Robert Southey

This collection of sprawling, erudite musings is a literary labyrinth, guiding the reader through the idiosyncratic mind of a scholar who finds the universe reflected in the smallest details of daily life.

Essays, Letters & Speeches7 min read
Cover of The Woman and the Right to Vote

The Woman and the Right to Vote

Rafael Palma

This compelling, historical address serves as a vital record of the early legislative struggle to grant women the right to vote in the Philippines.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of A Series of Letters, in Defence of Divine Revelation: In Reply to Rev. Abner Kneeland's Serious Inquiry into the Authenticity of the Same. To Which is Added, a Religious Correspondence, Between the Rev. Hosea Ballou, and the Rev. Dr. Joseph Buckminster and Rev. Joseph Walton, Pastors of Congregational Churches in Portsmouth, N. H

A Series of Letters, in Defence of Divine Revelation: In Reply to Rev. Abner Kneeland's Serious Inquiry into the Authenticity of the Same. To Which is Added, a Religious Correspondence, Between the Rev. Hosea Ballou, and the Rev. Dr. Joseph Buckminster and Rev. Joseph Walton, Pastors of Congregational Churches in Portsmouth, N. H

Hosea Ballou

The challenge of defending faith against skepticism is an enduring one, and this volume captures a spirited, formal debate from the early nineteenth century between those seeking to uphold the authenticity of divine revelation and those testing its foundations.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of Birds and Nature, Vol. 12 No. 1 [June 1902]: Illustrated by Color Photography

Birds and Nature, Vol. 12 No. 1 [June 1902]: Illustrated by Color Photography

Various

This collection of natural history essays and poetry serves as a window into the Edwardian-era fascination with the living world. It captures a moment when the study of nature was as much a moral and aesthetic pursuit as a scientific one.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of Lectures Delivered in America in 1874

Lectures Delivered in America in 1874

Charles Kingsley

Reverence for the past is the mark of a vigorous, forward-looking people. These lectures argue that true national strength is built by understanding our ancestors, not by casting them aside.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of Letters to the Clergy on the Lord's Prayer and the Church

Letters to the Clergy on the Lord's Prayer and the Church

John Ruskin

A layman’s challenging call to the Church, this collection of correspondence demands that the clergy abandon hollow formality and address the practical, often uncomfortable, requirements of the Gospel. It is an urgent, provocative inquiry into what it truly means to profess faith in the modern world.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of The Guide to Reading

The Guide to Reading

Unknown

The library is a living companion that requires no invitation and never bores the reader. This collection offers a curated pathway through the world’s best writing, transforming daily reading into a practice of personal growth.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of The Library Magazine of Select Foreign Literature: All volumes

The Library Magazine of Select Foreign Literature: All volumes

Various

This collection offers a window into the intellectual preoccupations of the late nineteenth century, gathering essays, poetry, and reports on global culture, science, and history. It serves as a sprawling, Victorian-era bridge between disparate fields of thought.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
Cover of The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. I., No. 12, August, 1835

The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. I., No. 12, August, 1835

Various

This inaugural volume captures a pivotal moment in American letters, blending travelogues, historical inquiry, and earnest social debate into a singular, ambitious periodical voice from the South. It serves as a time capsule of the early nineteenth-century intellectual landscape.

Essays, Letters & Speeches6 min read
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