The Complete Harvard Anthology of the Greatest Works of World Literature
Books | Literary Criticism / Comparative Literature
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing
Thomas Carlyle
Plato
Charles Darwin
Dante Alighieri
Euripides
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Charles Lamb
Samuel Johnson
John Stuart Mill
David Hume
Joseph Addison
Leigh Hunt
Epictetus
Thomas De Quincey
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Jonathan Swift
Christopher Marlowe
Jacob Grimm
Wilhelm Grimm
William Hazlitt
Marcus Tullius Cicero
Daniel Defoe
Aesop
Richard Henry Dana
John Dryden
Pedro Calderón de la Barca
John Ruskin
Robert Burns
David Garrick
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Izaak Walton
John Bunyan
Homer
Edmund Burke
Plutarch
Molière
Aeschylus
Sophocles
William Makepeace Thackeray
Benjamin Franklin
Pierre Corneille
Jean Racine
Robert Browning
Oliver Goldsmith
John Milton
Aristophanes
Virgil
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
William Penn
Philip Sidney
Francis Bacon
Adam Smith
Alessandro Manzoni
Abraham Cowley
Ben Jonson
John Woolman
Sydney Smith
Marcus Aurelius
Hans Christian Andersen
George Gordon Byron
Thomas à Kempis
Richard Steele
Thomas Browne
Thomas Babington Macaulay
Miguel de Cervantes
Friedrich von Schiller
Pliny the Younger
Saint Augustine
The Complete Harvard Anthology of the Greatest Works of World Literature stands as a testament to the profound diversity and brilliance of literary expression throughout the ages. This collection compiles an impressive array of literary styles ranging from the classical dialogues of Plato to the romantic verses of Percy Bysshe Shelley, exploring timeless themes of love, reason, morality, and the human condition. Within its pages, readers will encounter the pithy fables of Aesop, the profound tragedies of Euripides, and the incisive wit of Jonathan Swift, providing a sweeping panorama of intellectual and creative endeavors from varied epochs and cultures. The anthology serves not only as a literary treasure trove but also as a crucial cultural artifact, reflecting the evolution of human thought and artistic achievement. Guided by the discerning scholarship of its editors, the anthology gathers luminaries from distinct eras—philosophers like John Stuart Mill and Marcus Aurelius, writers such as Miguel de Cervantes and Charles Lamb, and pioneers like Charles Darwin and Adam Smith. These authors hail from diverse backgrounds, bringing insights from the Enlightenment, Renaissance, Romanticism, and beyond. Their collective voices weave a rich tapestry that enhances the reader's understanding of both the specific themes within their works and broader humanistic discourses. Each piece not only stands alone in its brilliance but also resonates within a larger conversation spanning centuries and borders. This anthology is an indispensable resource for those eager to immerse themselves in the wealth of literary heritage packed within a single volume. It offers a unique opportunity to engage with a plethora of perspectives, experiencing a vibrant dialogue that spans across time and space. Scholars, students, and literature enthusiasts alike will discover a profound educational value in its pages, gaining insights into the myriad ways humanity has sought to understand itself and the world across different epochs. The collection invites readers to not only appreciate the distinct voices contained within but also to reflect upon the enduring dialogue they contribute to the tapestry of world literature.