Introductory note on American Historical Documents (Volume 43, Harvard Classics)

Historical documents, now priceless, were often used as wrapping paper. Rescued by chance was a letter of Columbus telling of his voyages - of the amazing bargains made with timid natives -- of Amazon women who fought like men and made marriage treaties with cannibals. (Volume 43, Harvard Classics)

It's Columbus Day!

Introductory note on Virgil (Volume 13, Harvard Classics)

Æneas, mythological founder of the Roman race, leaving Carthage and its lovely Queen Dido, was driven by a storm to the coast of Sicily. There the hospitality of King Acestes helped him to forget his relinquished love. (Volume 13, Harvard Classics)

Introductory note on Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (Volume 14, Harvard Classics)

The romance-stricken Don Quixote sees a fair youth seated by the side of a stream, "his feet like two crystals, his hands like snowflakes." The youth was a charming girl! (Volume 14, Harvard Classics)

Cervantes aided in the capture of Tunis, Oct. 10, 1573.

Introductory note on Sarah Flower Adams (The Ridpath Library of Universal Literature)

Do you know that many of your favorite hymns have echoed for hundreds of years through vast cathedrals, and resounded from the walls of Jericho during the Crusades? (Volume 45, Harvard Classics)

Newman, author of "Lead, Kindly Light," baptized Oct. 9, 1845.

Introductory note on Henry Fielding (The Ridpath Library of Universal Literature)

Fielding wrote a lengthy story to burlesque a novel of Richardson. But the travesty overshot its mark. Instead of a mere parody, it became a masterpiece. (Volume 39, Harvard Classics)

Henry Fielding died Oct. 8, 1764.