Letters
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A Lady’s Visit to the Gold Diggings of Australia, in 1852-53: Written on the Spot
A Lady's Visit to the Gold Diggings of Australia in 1852-53 is an account of Clacy's visit with her brother to the Victorian goldfields. It combines detailed description with features of real dramatic interest and gives a lively impression of the times. Ellen Clacy (Mrs Charles) 1830-? was the author of Light and Shadows of Australian Life (1854) and A Lady's Visit to the Gold Diggings of Australia in 1852-53 (1853)
De Profundis
Renowned as a wit, poet, dramatist and one of the great conversationalists of his age, Oscar Wilde (1854?1900) nevertheless fell victim to the forces of repression and prudery in late Victorian England. As a result of his affair with Lord Alfred Douglas, Wilde was found guilty of homosexual offenses and jailed for two years.While in prison, he wrote De Profundis, a long and bitter letter of recrimination addressed to Douglas. In it, he accuses Douglas of shallowness, selfishness, greed, gross interference with his [Wilde's] artistic efforts and other faults and wrongdoing. Nevertheless, it is clear from this letter that Wilde deeply loved Douglas and still harbored strong feelings for him, in spite of Douglas' role in Wilde's downfall. While the letter is a touching cri de coeur that offers fascinating insights into Wilde's life in prison and the background and psychology of a notorious affair, its eloquence, passion, and literary excellence raise it above the level of the purely personal. Instead, it becomes a universal statement about love, injustice and the pain of living in the world.
Living Bayonets a Record of the Last Push
1919. Another fascinating compilation of letters from Lieutenant Dawson, whose two war books, The Glory of the Trenches and Carry On, have had many sympathetic and admiring readers. In Living Bayonets, Dawson's correspondence from the front takes up his story at the point where Carry On laid it down, at the time when America entered the war. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.
The Story of My Life, Part 2 (Letters 1887 – 1901)
When Helen Keller's autobiography was first published in 1903, Part 1 of this 3 part book, she was just a young woman studying at Radcliffe College. In it, she shares memories of her childhood, describes how Miss Sullivan rescued her from complete darkness, and reflects on her experiences as a college student. Part 2 is a collection of Helen's letters from age 8 through 1901, addressed to various teachers, friends and mentors. This is interspersed with introductory commentary by her editor John Albert Macy. It is fascinating to see how her awareness of the world expanded as she matured, how much she relied on "teacher" (Anne Sullivan) to be her eyes ears, and interpreter of life, and displays her extraordinary graciousness, and ability to paint word pictures from an early age. Part 3 of this book includes in-depth writings by her teacher, Anne Mansfield Sullivan, on her teaching methods, their experiences learning together; and additional insightful commentary by editor John Albert Macy on Helen?s extraordinary education, personality, giftedness, and literary style. The 1962 hit movie "The Miracle Worker" (nominated for 5 academy awards), starring Anne Bancroft (won Best Actress) and Patty Duke (won Best Supporting Actress), was based upon information in this book. (Summary by Michele Fry)