Songs and Song Writers

by Henry T. Finck

1901

The most important function of musical criticism is, in my opinion, discovering and calling attention to good things the merits of which are not sufficiently known to the public, and to arouse enthusiasm for them. Therefore, instead of writing a compendium of useless knowledge about insignificant composers and antiquated songs, that have merely a historic interest -- making a dry catalog of a thousand pages that nobody would read -- I have endeavored to give this short volume an eminently practical character; ignoring what is antiquated, trashy, or commonplace; mentioning, so far as possible, whatever is good; but dwelling in detail and with enthusiasm only on the best; making the book, in short, a sort of Song-Baedeker, with bibliographic footnotes for the benefit of students who wish to pursue the subject further. - Preface.

STRANGE STRANGE THINGS: 550+ Supernatural Mysteries, Macabre & Horror Classics

by Wilhelm Hauff, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Adelbert von Chamisso, Oscar Wilde, Robert Louis Stevenson, Edgar Allan Poe, William Hope Hodgson, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, John Buchan, Louis Tracy, Bram Stoker, Anatole France, Charlotte Brontë, Emily Brontë, Jack London, Henry James, Théophile Gautier, Arthur Conan Doyle, Richard Le Gallienne, Jane Austen, Algernon Blackwood, Ralph Adams Cram, Thomas De Quincey, John Meade Falkner, Guy de Maupassant, Thomas Hardy, William Archer, Daniel Defoe, John Kendrick Bangs, Cleveland Moffett, Brander Matthews, Marie Belloc Lowndes, Sax Rohmer, Horace Walpole, Rudyard Kipling, Lafcadio Hearn, Ambrose Bierce, Frederick Marryat, Ellis Parker Butler, Washington Irving, Leonid Andreyev, David Lindsay, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Grant Allen, Arthur Machen, Wilkie Collins, William Makepeace Thackeray, Thomas Peckett Prest, James Malcolm Rymer, Fergus Hume, Edward Bellamy, Walter Hubbell, S. Mukerji, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Leopold Kompert, Richard Marsh, Florence Marryat, Catherine Crowe, Marjorie Bowen, John William Polidori, Vincent O'Sullivan, H. G. Wells, Robert W. Chambers, W. W. Jacobs, M. P. Shiel, E. F. Benson, Jerome K. Jerome, M. R. James, E. T. A. Hoffmann, George W. M. Reynolds, H. P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard, Edith Nesbit, Sabine Baring-Gould, William Thomas Beckford, Francis Marion Crawford, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Mary Louisa Molesworth, Mary E. Wilkins Freeman, Nikolai Gogol, Mary Shelley, Elizabeth Gaskell, Gertrude Atherton, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Frank R. Stockton, A. T. Quiller-Couch, Olivia Howard Dunbar, Ann Radcliffe, Louisa M. Alcott, Amelia B. Edwards, Leonard Kip, Matthew Gregory Lewis, Fitz-James O'Brien, Katherine Rickford, Bithia Mary Croker, Catherine L. Pirkis, Émile Erckmann, Alexandre Chatrian, Pedro De Alarçon, J. K. Huysmans, H. H. Munro (Saki), Pliny the Younger, Helena Blavatsky, Villiers de l'Isle Adam, William F. Harvey, Fiona Macleod, William T. Stead, Gambier Bolton, Andrew Jackson Davis, Nizida, Walter F. Prince, Chester Bailey Fernando

2023 · Good Press

STRANGE STRANGE THINGS: 550+ Supernatural Mysteries, Macabre & Horror Classics is a monumental assembly of narratives that traverses the shadowy boundaries of the supernatural, the uncanny, and the outright terrifying. This collection boasts an unparalleled diversity in literary styles, encompassing the gothic tales of the 18th century, the psychological horror of the 19th century, and the cosmic dread of the early 20th century. The anthology highlights the genre's evolution, featuring seminal works that have shaped our understanding of fear and fascination with the unknown. Each piece, carefully selected for its contribution to the tapestry of horror and supernatural literature, stands as a testament to the genre's richness and complexity, showcasing the stylistic innovation and depth of insight that horror and macabre tales can offer. The backgrounds of the contributors to STRANGE STRANGE THINGS are as varied as the themes they explore, encompassing renowned authors from different eras and cultures, each bringing their unique voice and perspective to the collection. From the psychological realism of Henry James to the dark romanticism of Edgar Allan Poe, and the pioneering science fiction of H.G. Wells, this anthology not only charts the historical and cultural shifts within the genre but also reflects the broader human condition through its exploration of fear, desire, and the supernatural. The collective contributions of these authors provide a rich, multidimensional experience of the macabre, enlivened by their diverse cultural backgrounds and literary traditions, thereby enriching the reader's understanding of the multifaceted nature of horror and supernatural literature. STRANGE STRANGE THINGS is an indispensable volume for both aficionados and new readers of the horror and supernatural genres, offering a comprehensive journey through the labyrinth of humanity's deepest fears and darkest fantasies. This collection serves as a unique educational tool, broadening the readers literary horizons and deepening their appreciation for the craft of storytelling. It invites readers to immerse themselves in a world where the extraordinary confronts the ordinary, where the boundary between the known and the unknown blurs, and to explore the profound psychological and philosophical questions that these stories evoke. For anyone seeking to understand the breadth and depth of the supernatural in literature, STRANGE STRANGE THINGS is an unrivaled compendium that promises endless hours of fascination and awe.