Introductory note on Izaak Walton (Volume 15, Harvard Classics)

Monuments are usually made from death masks, but John Donne took pleasure in posing for his, wrapped from head to foot in a shroud. Isaak Walton tells of this in his fascinating biography of the eccentric poet. (Volume 15, Harvard Classics)

John Donne died March 31, 1631.

Introductory note on Alessandro Manzoni (Volume 21, Harvard Classics)

"I Promessi Sposi," a seventeenth century novel, vividly describes the devastating plague of Milan. Then whole families sickened in a few hours and died in less than a day's time of strange and violent complaints whose symptoms were unknown to physicians. (Volume 21, Harvard Classics)

Capuchin monks given charge of the plague hospital in Milan, March 30, 1630.

Introductory note on The Story of the Volsungs and Niblungs (Volume 49, Harvard Classics)

Brynhild, favorite goddess of Norse mythology, plighted troth with Sigurd, fearless warrior. But Sigurd forgot Brynhild and married Gudrun, whose brother, Gunner, then set out to win the beautiful Brynhild. Complications very like a modern triangle arose. (Volume 49, Harvard Classics)

Introductory note on Adam Smith (Volume 10, Harvard Classics)

The making of a simple pin is one of the most complex affairs of modern industry. Adam Smith regards the process from the worker's point of view, and shows the many and varied economic principles that are involved in pin making. (Volume 10, Harvard Classics)

Introductory note on Robert Louis Stevenson (Volume 28, Harvard Classics)

Is lying or quibbling ever permissible? May one juggle words so a truth is conveyed through a lie and a lie told by a truth? Stevenson unravels this puzzle. (Volume 28, Harvard Classics)