Monumentala monografie dedicat? unuia dintre cei mai mari romancieri ai lumii are avantajul de a sintetiza o bun? parte din bibliografia scris? pe marginea operei uria?ului care a semnat, ?ntre altele, capodopera Crima ?i pedeaps?. Ion Iano?i plaseaz? ?ac?iunea“, firul epic al cercet?rii ?ntreprinse ?n contextul secolului al XIX-lea, astfel ?nc?t eroii vie?ii literare de atunci se contureaz? pregnant, provoc?tor de viu.

Lirica Aurei Christi s-a format i s-a modelat iute, ferm, cu o ndrzneal i o gravitate rar a tonului, mai ales n jurul poeziei de meditaie post-romantic, de la Rilke la vetaieva, de la Blaga la Nichita Stnescu. Necznd prad ispitelor culturale i mondene post-decembriste, ntre care aa-zisul post-modernism romnesc, ce afia cu o anume suficien refuzul valorilor clasice i moderne n favoarea unei lirici descompuse i uneori barbar improvizate sub scuza autenticismului, poeta noastr a uimit critica de specialitate prin ample volute metaforice, calde, ndrznee, abordnd, n cteva volume, printr-o splendid frond, clasicul sonet poetic i dovedind o excelent stpnire a limbii, a mijloacelor specifice, ntr-o liric a meditaiei grave, adnci, exprimat n metafore, n care modernitatea i sensibilitatea secolului se confund, cu vigoare clar, de o marcat originalitate, tumultuos i muzical aproape, ntr-o subtil rezonan eufonic, cu trimiteri, accente i imagini simbolice, cu marele torent al liricii europene de nalt nivel, de la Rimbaud i Baudelaire, la Rilke i Blaga. i, nc odat, la vetaieva i Nichita Stnescu.“ (Nicolae Breban)A scrie cderea apocaliptic nu e uor. E un merit al Aurei Christi faptul de a gsi singura soluie la aceast cdere fatal, dat din pornire: cel care o scrie o i oprete, incitnd rigoarea/ celui din urm frig. Doar un fel de zeu al poeziei, o divinitate descoperit cu greu, contient de destrmarea mitului, poate s impun din nou mitul: instituirea mai viului este cu putin doar datorit morii. nvierea nu e posibil dect datorit ei. Sensul celei mai mari dintre taine se dezleag, astfel, paradoxal, prin rsturnarea negativitii generale a sensului. (...) Descoperirea fcut de poet este c realul nsui are origine poetic (nu real!), prin cderea n emisfera cealalt, de parc Dante nsui ar fi acum reeditat n alt semantic: Ah, calul e fiu al pegailor dintotdeauna. Fiinele existente i au obria n himere, iar realitatea ia fiin din metafor. (...) Alt descoperire poetic: ntreg mitul temporal al omenirii poate fi ranversat. (…) Iat, deci, cum se poate recupera mitul ntr-o epoc n care toat lumea postmodern a visat la demitizare i dez-iluzionare pentru a se apropia de realul ca atare.“ (tefania Mincu)http://aurachristi.ro/

Iat?, ?n cuvintele Aurei Christi, curg?nd abundent, din surse ascunse, fluidul vivifiant al poeziei, s? nu ne temem de retorica majusculelor, al marei Poezii. (Nicolae Balota).Aici totul e grav. Nici ludicul, nici parodicul, nici oboseala contextului postindustrial ?i nici tendin?ele destructurante ale postmodernilor nu au trecere. Modernitatea Aurei Christi e una esen?ial?, organic?, refractar? modelor, n?zuind spre reinterpretarea semnelor ?i universaliilor; ?ntreb?rile pe care ?i le pune ea au fost ?i ale inainta?ilor, iar r?spunsurile transcend achizi?iile, relev?nd evolu?ia con?tiin?ei ?n mers, relev?nd evolu?ia unei creatoare de m?na ?nt?i, cu totul personal?. Scrieri mai noi, Labirintul exilului (2000), Elegii nordice (2002) ?i altele confirma consecven?a cu sine a unei con?tiin?e exemplare. (Constantin Ciopraga)M? auzi tu, oare, ?nstr?inato? Am citit poeziile tale la ceas de sear?, pe o teras?, av?nd ?n fa?? colinele Ierusalimului. Eu nu sunt un bun comentator de poezie, cei care au scris despre poezia ta te-au “prins“ foarte bine, ai for??, un sim? rar al tragicului ?i antene pentru transcenden??, f?r? s? cazi (din fericire) ?n ceea ce se cheam? “poezie religioas?“. E un instinct p?g?n care te fere?te de o excesiva “cre?tinare“ a poeziei chiar ?i ?n Psalmi. (Leon Volovici). (fragment dintr-o scrisoare)E simplu: ?l vad pe Dumnezeu ca pe un partener de dialog, cu care ma cert nu rareori. Citesc adesea serile din Noul Testament mai ales; ei, ?i atunci ?ncepe fierberea... Nu prea merg la biseric? dec?t atunci c?nd simt imperios nevoia – adev?r pentru care Mama de pilda m? ceart? c?teodat?. Duc biserica mea cu mine; a?a pot s? m? rog oriunde, oric?nd. Spre deosebire de Cioran, eu cred ca nu Diavolul a f?cut lumea, ci Dumnezeu; doar c? spre sf?r?itul Facerii a obosit un pic; se ?nt?mpl? ?ntruc?tva c? ?ntr-o proza a lui Rilke, ?n care cele doua m?ini ale Domnului se iau la ?ntrecere ?i se pare ca st?nga profit? de oboseala dreptei... M? ?i ?ntreb uneori, pe urmele lui Unamuno: cine sunt eu s?-i cer socoteala lui Dumnezeu pentru ca lumea ?n care tr?im e a?a cum e? (Are dreptul, oare, o g?nganie s?-?i aroge obr?znicia de a se ciond?ni cu El, cu nimeni altcineva dec?t cu El?!!) ?i tot ca Unamuno, invoc?ndu-l pe Oberman, ?mi r?spund: da, c?ci pentru lume, pentru univers eu sunt nimeni, nu ?nsemn nimic, pentru mine ?ns? sunt totul.Gr?dini austere a stat – da, incredibil – ?n sertarele c?torva edituri circa ?apte ani; ani de izolare atroce, de singur?tate dorit?, iubit?, hulit? ?i, iar ?i iar, iubit?... E un volum publicat dup? o perioada de secet?, c?nd mi se p?rea – p?n? la o neagr? m?nie! – ca nu voi mai scrie niciodat? poezie... Nici cartea de debut n-am a?teptat-o at?tea... secole. E un volum care a circulat pe internet, prietenii trimi??ndu-mi mesaje, scrisori, cronici ad-hoc despre cartea mea de psalmi ?n r?sp?r. (Aura Christi)Faptul c? Gr?dinile austere au trecut prin PC-ul meu mi-a prilejuit o bucurie, o tulburare de zile aurorale. Nu m-am putut ab?ine ?i am citit c?teva poeme. N-am mai putut apoi s-o las din mana. M-a ?nv?luit ?i m-a luat pe sus cutremurata spiritualitate vital? care str?bate versurile. Asta nu mi se ?nt?mpl? prea des, citind poezie contemporan?. (Zoltan Terner)Mignona ?i b?t?ioas?, cheltuind pasionalitate, r?zboinic? ?n pofida fragilit??ii, ?mpr??tiind texte curajoase pe care amicii internau?i nu ezit? a le califica “dinamit? curat?“, sup?r?nd pe mul?i, scriind febril, asum?ndu-?i riscurile Balcaniei (“lin?at?“, pedepsit?, izolat? etc.), Aura Christi, cit?nd “vorbele atroce“ ale iubitului Nietzsche, vrea s? devin? ceea ce este: poet?. (...) Metamorfoza e izbitoare; discursul a devenit sincopat, auster, de o incanta?ie adumbrit?, celebr?nd “via?a de vis“, test?nd – prin “poemele de iubire“ – temele grave (rela?ia cu maestrul, divinitatea, moartea, poezia) pentru a conchide c?, doar povestit?, via?a e tr?it?. Mul?i dintre exege?ii Aurei Christi au subliniat “fulminant? ascensiune“ a poetei. Penetrant?, Aura Christi a avut ?ansa de a fi fost v?zut? ?n mediile bucure?tene. Dar meritele poetei, dincolo de suportul valoric, stau ?i ?n tenacitatea autoconstruc?iei, promov?nd – programatic – “ruptura“. (Adrian Dinu Rachieru)

Poeta, eseista ?i prozatoarea Aura Christi propune o radiografie a vie?ii literare ?i a celor mai interesante c?r?i ap?rute ?n ultimul deceniu literar. Cartea se adreseaz? elevilor, studen?ilor, precum ?i publicului larg de cititori.

Mevsim, k?? ortas?yd?! Günlerce ya?murla ?slanm??t? ?stanbul! Bütün hafta f?rt?nayla, karla, so?ukla insanlar?n can?n ??kar. Sonra da insanlara ?ektirdi?ine pi?man olmu? gibi bir sevimlili?e büründü. ?stanbul bu, bir bakm??s?n?z f?rt?na dinmi?, güne? a?m??, bir bakm??s?n?z aniden kar ya?m??. ?stanbul b?yledir i?te… Parlayan güne?i f?rsat bilen binlerce insan sokaklara d?külür. Kimi bo?azda, kimi k?prüde, kimi deniz k?y?s?nda oltas?yla bal?k tutuyor, kimileri vapurla adalara gidiyor, kimi Emin?nü’ne, kimi al?? veri? merkezlerine, ya da kar?n tad?n? ??karmak i?in Belgrat ormanlar?na gidiyor… Bu gün hava karl?yd? ve tipik ?stanbul hali i?te! Zalim bir ?ehirdir ?u ?stanbul! Tehlike ?ok ama, bir o kadar da güzeldir. Sana hep ihanet eder ve sen yine onu sevmeye devam edersin. “?stanbul’u sevmeyen g?nül, a?k? ne anlar!” demi?ler ?airler ve bu s?zü bo?una s?ylememi?ler! Bir bakm??s?n?z güzel bir gün ge?irirken onu bozacak birisi mutlaka ??kar. Sanki ?stanbul’un de?i?mez bir kurald?r bu! Onu o kadar iyi tan?m?? durumday?m ki, hakk?nda ciltler dolusu kitap bile yazabilirim... ? ? ? Halit Fuat Be?ik kimdir? 1952 y?l?nda Fatsa'da do?du. ?lk ve orta ??renimini Fatsa'da, üniversite ??renimini ise ?stanbul'da tamamlad?. Kapal? ?ar??da ticaret hayat?na at?ld?. Bu arada dünyan?n pek ?ok ülkesini gezme f?rsat? buldu. ?nceleri rezaletten ka?mayan ve "Hep ben" mant???yla maceral? bir hayat ya?ad?. Okumay? ve not almay? ?ok sevdi?i i?in pek ?ok kitap ve notlara sahiptir… Yazar?n ?al??malar?; "TALAN MEVS?M?NDE ADAM G?B? YA?AMAK", "SOKRATES’?N ?SYANI", "HA?LILAR ?ANAKKALEDE", "Y?Z ELL? YA?INDAK? ADAM", "TEVRATIN ?OCUKLARI VE KURAN", "AR?F’?N ?L?M?", "???RLE A?LAMAK", "K???K MAHMUT ?LE KOCA BAYRAM", "VEN?S GEZEGEN?NDE ?SYAN", "ADEME MEKTUPLAR" gibi Kur-an ahlak?na dayal?, ama daha cüretk?r ve farkl? konuda yaz?lm?? kitaplard?r. ?Yazmak konusuna otuz y?ll?k bir emek vermesine ra?men, bu konuda daha pek ?ok ?ey yapmas? gerekti?ine inan?yor. “Talan Mevsiminde Adam gibi ya?amak”, “Sokrates’in ?syan?”, “Ha?l?lar ?anakkale’de”, “Tevrat’?n ?ocuklar? ve Kur-an”, “Yüz Elli Ya??ndaki Adam”, “?iirle A?lamak”, “Kü?ük Mahmut ile Koca Bayram”, “Venüs Gezegeninde ?syan” ve “Adem’e Mektuplar” isimli kitaplar? yay?nlanm??t?r. ?nan?, Adalet, ?nsan sevgisi ve Kuran ahlak?na dayal? o muhte?em denge i?inde eserler vermeye ?al???yor. Ger?ek eserlerini bundan sonra size sunaca??na inan?yor... ?imdilik, ya??yor i?te…

The grandfather of Nell Trent wants to make sure his granddaughter is provided for when he dies. His memory of his daughter’s suffering and premature death gives him a fear of poverty. This obsession results in his financial and physical ruin. Nell and her grandfather flee and embark on a journey that has no destination. For Nell, all she wants is a peaceful existence with enough to subsist on.??They come across many interesting people in their travels and are often met with the kindness of strangers. Yet, underneath an animated and colorful world, they also encounter the bleak reality of the industrial age. From simple villages and fields of flowers, they cross into a dirty city full of mass unemployment and plague victims—where children die from starvation and are left on the curb.??The story isn’t just about Nell and her grandfather, but the people who are connected to them directly or indirectly. There is Richard Swiveller, a careless young man who is a friend of Nell’s plotting brother, who wants Swiveller to marry Nell for the fortune he thinks she has. Daniel Quilp, the malicious dwarf, has a vendetta against the grandfather—who was the one person who managed to fool him. There is honest Kit, who finds himself the victim of spite of people he never harmed. Kit desires to help Nell, whoM he worships as a personal angel that has always inspired the best in him. The mysterious Bevis Marks, who is a generous patron to some and an enemy to others, also has his own reasons for finding Nell and her grandfather.??Unique to this book, unlike Dickens other works, is a fairy tale quality to the story. It is certainly a book of contrasts: the purity of Nell compared to the sadistic depravity of Quilp, fresh air and scenic villages to the polluted, stone covered city, etc. Even people’s reactions to the book revealed a stark contrast. At first, Nell Trent was praised as the most perfect Dickens character. Later, she was ridiculed and criticized by many well-known people like Oscar Wilde. While characters in other Dickens books are moving towards a better future, Nell and her grandfather are fleeing their life—and their story is moving towards an ending.??The Old Curiosity Shop was inspired by a personal tragedy in Dickens life. Nell Trent is based on the seventeen year old sister-in-law of Dickens who lived with him and whom he was fond of. The girl collapsed and died suddenly after the family had come home from the theater, probably due to undiagnosed heart disease. The story is a time capsule—full of references of popular songs, literature, and scandals of the period. As to be expected of a Dickens novel, there is social commentary on the plight of the poor. The Old Curiosity Shop delves into the unknown world of freak shows and other traveling entertainers—showing a magical world, yet one with a dark underside to it.

Su historia es diferente a la de las otras personas exitosas en la historia. Su ética laboral es conocida, pero a la vez diferente. ?Qué hay en él que lo hace un súper triunfador? ?Qué lo hace conducir intensamente hacia sus objetivos? ?Por qué puede convertir una idea en un éxito sorprendente? Léelo, y descúbrelo. La necesidad de comprender a los que triunfan más allá de nuestra propia imaginación es inherente a todos nosotros. El deseo innato es impulsado por nuestra profunda y subyacente necesidad de encontrar mejores formas para lograr nuestros objetivos, comprender nuestros sue?os y elevarnos hasta lograr nuestros desafíos.?Este libro trata sobre los eventos subyacentes de Jeff Bezos y las formas en que influyeron en su vida, además de conocer la forma en que respondió y los usó para su beneficio. El libro no pretende conocer las fibras que componen el contenido de su corazón; ningún hombre puede saberlo. Pero lo que hace es encadenar múltiples eventos y ver las sombras que proyecta.Todo eso es descrito para que usted pueda encontrar los elementos que podrían ser su semilla, logro y grandeza. La historia de Bezos traza el camino desde que fue joven, observa sus acciones y logros, y descifra la existencia de su mayor logro, Amazon, de una manera que refleja su carácter, intelecto y educación.

„Bucur?-te de fiecare clip? tr?it?!“ „Principala mea preocupare în via?? a fost s? mi cultiv pl?cerile sim?urilor. Sim?indu-m? n?scut pentru sexul opus, l-am iubit întotdeauna ?i m-am l?sat iubit de el. Mi-a pl?cut la nebunie savoarea meselor bune ?i m-a pasionat tot ceea ce era menit s?-mi incite curiozitatea.“ – Casanova Casanova (n. 1725, Vene?ia), „scandalosul ?i insolitul vene?ian, nu a fost doar ceea ce s-a crezut: un aventurier, escroc ?i libertin. Ci ?i poetul, memorialistul, filosoful, muzicianul ale c?rui Memorii au fost considerate «adev?rata Enciclopedie a secolului al XVIII lea».“ – Blaise Cendrars „Pu?ine persoane îi pot egala cunoa?terea, inteligen?a ?i imagina?ia.“ – Lamberg ?Via?a monden? ?i amoroas? a lui Casanova a fost consemnat? f?r? pudoare în miile de pagini ale Memoriilor sale, intitulate ?i Povestea vie?ii mele, autobiografie lipsit? de complezen??, care traverseaz? Secolul Luminilor. Scris? extrem de savuros, cartea – din care edi?ia de fa?? ofer? o bogat? selec?ie – este considerat? o capodoper? a literaturii, prin picanteria detaliilor, amploarea moravurilor descrise ?i erudi?ia autorului.

Apreciat? la vremea ei pentru angajamentul ?i talentul de a media ?ntre culturi, Regina Elisabeta a Rom?niei (1843-1916) este considerat? p?n? ?n zilele noastre drept una dintre cele mai importante mediatoare ale literaturii ?i culturii rom?ne?ti ?n spa?iul de limb? german? de la sf?r?itul secolului al XIX-lea. Prin apari?ia sa neconven?ional? ca scriitoare, sub pseudonimul literar Carmen Sylva, angajat? ?n prop??irea dinastiei rom?ne, prima regin? a Rom?niei, Elisabeta, a demonstrat ?n fa?a publicului semnifica?ia modern? a ?profesiei“ de so?ie de monarh, un exemplu pe care succesoarea sa, Regina Maria a Rom?niei ?l va des?v?r?i.

n paginile acestei cri, am redat situaia general din Paradisul Vestului“ i a exilatului romn venit aici, vzut n dublu avantaj de persoana particular i jurnalist. Majoritatea celor venii n perioada tranziiei romne“, dar i o buna parte din ceilali au fost i sunt buni aici – cu preponderen n Germania – la muncile de jos“ (…) Romnia nu e cunoscut n Occident dect ca zona srciei, a copiilor orfani, a hoilor i a corupiei“!

Astfel de dic?ionare care s? te edifice asupra autorului, a operelor ?i a personajelor principale ale acestora n-au mai ap?rut p?n? acum la noi (desigur, ?n ce prive?te literatura universal?). Aici g?se?ti nu numai cuno?tin?ele necesare la orele rezervate lecturii obligatorii sau suplimentare din literatura universal?, ci ?i suficiente informa?ii care s? te incite la noi ?aventuri“ ale lecturii ?i, firesc, la l?rgirea universului intelectual.

Dac? spun un adev?r incomod sunt tratat? ca un trouble-fête. Dac? regret radicalismul sau lipsa de tact de a emite un adev?r nepl?cut, mi se sugereaz? c? sunt la??. Dac? sunt vis?toare sau patetic?, mi se spune c? sunt dep??it?. C?nd sunt trist? ?i m? ascund dup? masca unei veselii debordante, mi se z?mbe?te insidios: ei, ascunde ea ceva. C?nd spun ?n gura mare ceea ce cred, sunt ?fichiuit? cu sarcasme. Iar atunci c?nd abordez teme majore, mi se sugereaz? c? sunt expirat?. Nu, nu exist? nici un fel de comunicare. La mijloc sunt, mai degrab?, ni?te savante mecanisme menite s?-?i deformeze faptele, iar, ?n ultim? instan??, imaginea, ?i s?-?i taie orice elan, pentru ca, ?ntr-un t?rziu, s? te fac? s? alegi, iar??i, singur?tatea – mam? bun?, aspr?, cald? – ?n iadul-raiul de fiecare zi.S? te re?ntorci ?n subterana ta mereu acela?i, mereu altul, tu, cel care e?ti ?i devii ceea ce e?ti. Aici e marea judecat?. ?ntre pere?ii acoperi?i cu c?r?i ?ncepe cunoa?terea. Restul sunt vorbe, fantezii, toane, divaga?ii, ?nt?mpl?ri m?runte, scurse dinspre realitatea de fum, a c?rei amintire e proasp?t? ?i-at?t de vie. Orgoliul, smerenia ?i asprimea ?ndreptat? ?mpotriva ta ??i vor fi sfetnici.Carnea trec?toare a cui sunt, Doamne? (Aura Christi)

Nici avangardi?tii cei mai radicali n-au putut ignora total tradi?ia, de?i, la modul teoretic, au pretins c? au aruncat-o la co?ul de gunoi. Un Urmuz a valorificat absurdul care nu lipse?te din folclor, dar nici din Caragiale. ?Constructivi?tii” au sim?it tenta?ia s?-l asimileze pe Br?ncu?i la avangard? etc. Iat? ?ns? c? postmoderni?tii au ajuns la ??n?elepciunea” c? lumea contemporan? ?ncepe doar cu d?n?ii. Am auzit voci spun?nd c? Liviu Rebreanu este at?t de ??nvechit”, ?nc?t nu mai are ce c?uta ?n programele de ?nv???m?nt. Nu mai vorbim de Eminescu. Acesta n-ar fi dec?t un scriitor ?istoricizat”, interesant, cel mult, prin c?teva poeme cu tent? parodic-textualist?, cum sus?ine un eminent istoric literar, care consider? c? locul ?n ?canonul literar” rom?nesc trebuie cedat postmodernistului Mircea C?rt?rescu, cu detronarea ?poetului na?ional”, sintagm? complet ?dep??it?”. Captatio benevolentiae din conferin?a Aurei Crhisti ?ncepe cu o astfel de provocare: ?M-am ?ntrebat nu o dat?, pe ?ntinderea ultimilor ani, ce s-ar ?nt?mpla dac?, ?ntr-o bun? zi, ne-am pomeni fa?? ?n fa?? cu Mihai (sau Mihail, cum ?i spunea Nichita St?nescu) Eminescu, cu Lucian Blaga sau Nicolae Iorga, cu George C?linescu sau Liviu Rebreanu, cu Titu Maiorescu sau cu una dintre marile doamne ale literaturii rom?ne, Hortensia Papadat-Bengescu? S-ar sim?i acas?? Aici, printre noi, scriitorii rom?ni… Aceste ?ntreb?ri ar st?rni, f?r? ?ndoial?, ironiile sau comentariile sarcastice ale multor postmoderni?ti, textuali?ti, dou?mii?ti sau post-post-moderni?ti, care ?i-au ?ntocmit, ?ntr-o grab? suspect?, precipitat?, o ?nou? tabl? de valori acceptate?, fiindc? no?iunea de cultur? e... ?suspect? din punct de vedere politic!? Desigur, ace?ti mari scriitori nu s-ar mai sim?i acas?, ci abandona?i, cu patria lor cu tot, ?n numele alteia, obscur?, fudul?, ?n vulgaritatea ei, hibrid? din punct de vedere nu numai cultural, a?a cum o prevedea, alarmat, Mircea Eliade ?n celebra lui conferin?? din 1953, Destinul culturii rom?ne?ti. (Theodor Codreanu)

Este o carte care adun? ?n acela?i loc ?i-n acela?i timp, o diversitate de informa?ii ?i mesaje pozitive, energie ?i ?nv???minte care vin din istoria ?i cultura na?ional? ?i universal?, din tradi?iile ?i folclorul poporului rom?n dar ?i din lumea "necuv?nt?toarelor". Trebuie doar s-o "deschide?i" ?i ?sigur v? va cuprinde pasional? curiozitate. Primi?i ?n casele?domniilor voastre, "Pic?tura ?de ?n?elepciune" ?i "naviga?i" prin?"apele" ei lini?tite sau ?nvolburate ! S-ave?i "c?l?torie ?frumoas?"!

According to Wikipedia: "James Weldon Johnson (June 17, 1871 – June 26, 1938) was an American author, politician, diplomat, critic, journalist, poet, anthologist, educator, lawyer, songwriter, and early civil rights activist. Johnson is remembered best for his writing, which includes novels, poems, and collections of folklore. He was also one of the first African-American professors at New York University. Later in life he was a professor of creative literature and writing at Fisk University."

According to Wikipedia: "Jane Addams (September 6, 1860 – May 21, 1935) was a founder of the U.S. Settlement House movement, and one of the first American women to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize."

According to Wikipedia: "John Stuart Mill (20 May 1806 – 8 May 1873), English philosopher, political theorist, political economist, civil servant and Member of Parliament, was an influential British Classical liberal thinker of the 19th century whose works on liberty justified freedom of the individual in opposition to unlimited state control. He was a proponent of utilitarianism, an ethical theory developed by Jeremy Bentham, although his conception of it was very different from Bentham's. Hoping to remedy the problems found in an inductive approach to science, such as confirmation bias, he clearly set forth the premises of falsification as the key component in the scientific method."

According to Wikipedia: "Thomas Telford (1757–1834) was a Scottish civil engineer, architect and stonemason, and a noted road, bridge and canal builder. After establishing himself as an engineer of road and canal projects in Shropshire, he designed numerous infrastructure projects in his native Scotland, as well as harbours and tunnels. Such was his reputation as a prolific designer of highways and related bridges, he was dubbed The Colossus of Roads, and, reflecting his command of all types of civil engineering in the early 19th century, he was elected as the first President of the Institution of Civil Engineers, a post he retained for 14 years until his death.... Samuel Smiles (23 December 1812 – 16 April 1904), was a Scottish author and reformer. ... Smiles is best known today as the writer of books extolling virtues of self help, and biographies lauding the achievements of "heroic" engineers."

This edition retains the original idiosyncratic spelling and punctuation. " "These Journals are from May 14, 1804, the day the expedition left the Mississippi River, to September 26, 1806, a day or two after they arrived back in St. Louis. It includes all possible Journal entries of Lewis and Clark. Most of the "courses and distances" and "celestial observations" have been omitted. The notes and most of the corrections of past editors have been removed." According to Wikipedia: "The Lewis and Clark Expedition (1803–1806), headed by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, was the first American overland expedition to the Pacific coast and back."

According to Wikipedia: "Victor-Marie Hugo (26 February 1802 – 22 May 1885) was a French poet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France. In France, Hugo's literary fame comes first from his poetry but also rests upon his novels and his dramatic achievements. Among many volumes of poetry, Les Contemplations and La Légende des siècles stand particularly high in critical esteem, and Hugo is sometimes identified as the greatest French poet. Outside France, his best-known works are the novels Les Misérables and Notre-Dame de Paris (known in English also as The Hunchback of Notre Dame). Though a committed conservative royalist when he was young, Hugo grew more liberal as the decades passed; he became a passionate supporter of republicanism, and his work touches upon most of the political and social issues and artistic trends of his time. He is buried in the Panthéon."

Book-length collection of essays. According to Wikipedia: "Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874 - 1936) was an influential English writer of the early 20th century. His prolific and diverse output included journalism, philosophy, poetry, biography, Christian apologetics, fantasy and detective fiction. Chesterton has been called the "prince of paradox."[1] He wrote in an off-hand, whimsical prose studded with startling formulations. For example: "Thieves respect property. They merely wish the property to become their property that they may more perfectly respect it."[2] He is one of the few Christian thinkers who are equally admired and quoted by both liberal and conservative Christians, and indeed by many non-Christians. Chesterton's own theological and political views were far too nuanced to fit comfortably under the "liberal" or "conservative" banner."