Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern, volume 5 is a comprehensive collection of literary works that showcases the diversity and richness of human creativity. From timeless classics to lesser-known gems, this anthology offers a treasure trove of stories, poems, essays, and plays from various cultures and time periods.

The selection of works in this volume is impressive, ranging from the philosophical musings of Plato and the lyrical poetry of Rumi to the satirical wit of Mark Twain and the haunting tales of Edgar Allan Poe. Each piece is accompanied by informative introductions and footnotes that provide valuable context and background information, making the reading experience all the more enriching.

One of the standout features of this anthology is its inclusivity, with works from both well-established authors and emerging voices from around the world. This diversity of perspectives offers readers a glimpse into different cultures, beliefs, and experiences, fostering greater understanding and empathy.

While the sheer size of this anthology may seem daunting at first, its well-organized structure and engaging content make it a joy to explore. Whether you're a seasoned literature enthusiast or a curious reader looking to expand your horizons, Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern, volume 5 is sure to captivate and inspire.

Book Description:
The Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern, is a work of enormous proportions. Setting out with the simple goal of offering "American households a mass of good reading", the editors drew from literature of all times and all kinds what they considered the best pieces of human writing, and compiled an ambitious collection of 45 volumes (with a 46th being an index-guide). Besides the selection and translation of a huge number of poems, letters, short stories and sections of books, the collection offers, before each chapter, a short essay about the author or subject in question. In many cases, chapters contemplate not one author, but certain groups of works, organized by nationality, subject or period; there is, thus, a chapter on Accadian-Babylonian literature, one on the Holy Grail, and one on Chansons, for example.

The result is a collection that holds the interest, for the variety of subjects and forms, but also as a means of first contact with such famous and important authors that many people have heard of, but never read, such as Abelard, Dante or Lord Byron. According to the editor Charles Dudley Warner, this collection "is not a library of reference only, but a library to be read."

This fifth volume contains chapters from "Bismarck" to "Brandt".