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Harvard Classics - Reading Guide - January


Jan 1: FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Franklin's Advice for the New Year

"Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without
fail what you resolve"—was one of the rules for success
framed by America's first "self-made" man.

Read from FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY ..........     Vol. I, pp. 79-85


Jan 2: MILTON'S POEMS

School-Day Poems of John Milton

At the age of sixteen, Milton first appeared before the public
eye as a promising young poet. These early verses, written while
he was a boy in school, indicate his brilliant future.

Read: MILTON'S POEMS ............................    Vol. 4, pp. 7-18


Jan 3: Cicero ON FRIENDSHIP

Cicero on Friendship

"Fire and water are not of more universal use than friendship"—
such is the high value put upon this great human relationship
by the most famous orator of Rome.

Read from Cicero ON FRIENDSHIP ...............  Vol. 9, pp. 16-26


Jan 4: GRIMM'S FAIRY TALES

A Flounder Fish Story

A fisherman, so the story goes, once caught a flounder that spoke,
begging to be released. This was granted, whereupon the fisherman's
wife demanded that it grant her one miracle after another,
until even the flounder was disgusted.

Read from GRIMM'S FAIRY TALES ........................  Vol. 17, pp. 83-90


Jan 5: Mazzini's BYRON AND GOETHE

The Soaring Eagle and Contented Stork

Mazzini labored for the freedom of Italy, but was exiled. Byron
and Goethe also battled for liberty. Mazzini wrote an essay
in which he compared Byron to a soaring eagle and Goethe to
a contented stork.

Read: Mazzini's BYRON AND GOETHE ........  Vol. 32, pp. 377-396


Jan 6: Virgil's AENEID

Warned by Hector's Ghost

In the dead of night Hector's ghost appeared to warn Aeneas
of the impending doom to come upon the walled city of Troy.
Aeneas lifted his aged father on his back and, taking his son by
the hand, sought safety in flight. Off to Latium!

Read from Virgil's AENEID ..................  Vol. 13, pp. 109-127


Jan 7: THE THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS

If He Yawned, She Lost Her Head!


The Sultan had a habit of beheading each dawn his beautiful
bride of the night before, until he encountered Scheherazade.
Cleverly she saved her life a thousand and one mornings.


Read from THE THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS ......  Vol. 16, pp. 5-13

 


Jan 8: THE BOOK OF JOB

Trying the Patience of Job


God was pleased with the piety of Job, but Satan accredited the
piety to Job's prosperity and happiness. So a trial was made.
See how each succeeding affliction visited on Job shook the
depths of his nature, and how he survived.


Read from THE BOOK OF JOB ...................   Vol. 44, pp. 71-87



Jan 9: Nichol's SIR FRANCIS DRAKE REVIVED

A Treasure Hunt in Nombre de Dios

With only fifty-two men, Sir Francis Drake conceives the idea
of attacking his archenemy, Spain, at her most vulnerable point
the treasure at Nombre de Dios.

Read from Nichol's SIR FRANCIS DRAKE REVIVED ....  Vol. 33, pp. 135-145

 


Jan 10: Euripides' THE BACCHAE

Where Love Lies Waiting

King Pantheus of Thebes contended against Dionysus, the God,
for the adoration of the Theban women. The god was winning
by bewitching the women when the king interceded. Euripides
tells the story in a masterpiece of Greek drama.

Read from Euripides' THE BACCHAE .........  Vol. 8, pp. 368-372

 


Jan 11: THE FEDERALIST

Hamilton—Father of Wall Street

Hamilton organized the Treasury Department. He penned
most of the Federalist papers, which were greatly influential
in bringing New York into the Union—the first step toward its
eminent position in national and world finance.

Read: THE FEDERALIST ..................   Vol. 43, pp. 199-207


Jan 12: Burke ON TASTE

What Is Good Taste?

A Turkish sultan, relates Burke, when shown a picture of the
beheaded John the Baptist, praised many things, but pointed
out one gruesome defect. Did this observation show the sultan
to be an inferior judge of art?

Read: Burke ON TASTE .......................    Vol. 24, pp. 11-26


Jan 13: Rousseau's INQUIRY ON INEQUALITY

Rousseau Seeks Sanctuary in England

Rousseau taught that men were not created free and equal.
To substantiate his daring beliefs he traced man's history back
to his primitive beginnings. For his teachings, Rousseau was
forced to seek refuge in England.

Read from Rousseau's INQUIRY ON INEQUALITY ...   Vol. 34, pp. 215-228


Jan 14: THE FUNDAMENTAL ORDERS OF CONNECTICUT

The First Step Toward Independence

The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut is "the first written
constitution as a permanent limitation on governmental power,
known in history." It is the work of the Connecticut Yankee.

Read: THE FUNDAMENTAL ORDERS OF CONNECTICUT .....   Vol. 43, pp. 60-65


Jan 15: THE RUBAIYAT OF OMAR KHAYYAM

"The Moving Finger Writes"

Omar Khayyam laughed and enjoyed the good things of life.
His "Rubaiyat," the most popular philosophic poem, is the best
of all books to dip into for an alluring thought.

Read from THE RUBAIYAT OF OMAR KHAYYAM .....   Vol. 41, pp. 943-953


Jan 16: AESOP'S FABLES

The Old Woman and the Wine Jar

An old woman once found a wine jar, but it was empty. She
sniffed at the mouth of the jar and said: "What memories cling
'round the instruments of our pleasure."

Read from AESOP'S FABLES .......  Vol. 17, pp. 43-44; also pp. 31-43


Jan 17: FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Franklin's Family Tree

Good middle-class people, Franklin boasts, were his ancestors.
Some have attributed his genius to his being the youngest son
of the youngest son for five generations. In his famous autobiography,
he reveals quaint family history.

Read from FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY ...............   Vol. 1 , pp. 5-15


Jan 18: Aristophanes' THE FROGS

Origin of Yale "Brekekekex-Ko-ax"

"Shall I crack any of those old jokes, master, at which the audience
never fails to laugh?" Like an up-to-date vaudeville
team, Xanthias and Dionysus start off a dialogue that mingles
wit and poetry with humor and keen satire.

Read from Aristophanes' THE FROGS ............   Vol. 8, pp. 439-449


Jan 19: Poe's THE POETIC PRINCIPLE

Poe on Poetry

Regarded in Europe as one of America' s greatest writers, Poe
originated the detective story, perfected the mystery short story,
and produced America's first great poems. Here he unravels
the fabric of which all poetry is woven.

Read from Poe's THE POETIC PRINCIPLE .........  Vol. 28, pp. 371-380


Jan 20: Keats' EVE OF ST. AGNES

"Ah! It Is St. Agnes' Eve"

At midnight on the eve of St. Agnes there were certain solemn
ceremonies which all virgins must perform to have "visions of
delight and soft adorings from their loves." Porphyro took advantage
of this custom to win his bride.

Read: Keats' EVE OF ST. AGNES ..................   Vol. 41, pp. 883-893


Jan 21: ANDERSEN'S TALES

The Nightingale's Healing Melody

The Emperor of China lies on his deathbed grieving for the
song of his favorite bird. Hark, the song! It charms, coaxes,
and bribes Death to depart. It brings new life to the master.

Read from ANDERSEN'S TALES ...........  Vol. 17, pp. 301-310


Jan 22: Corneille's POLYEUCTE

A King's Pleasure Now Yours

The classic plays of French literature are produced to-day precisely
as when they were given for the resplendent kings they
were written to please. We are fortunate to have in English,
excellent translations of these noble plays.

Read from Corneille's POLYEUCTE ................   Vol. 26, pp. 77-87


Jan 23: Pascal's THE ART OF PERSUASION

Pascal Knew Men and Triangles

Pascal, the keen-minded philosopher and mathematician, fathomed
the human traits of man's nature with the same accurate
measurements which made him famous in the realm of geometry.
Read his searching analysis of man's conceit.

Read: Pascal's THE ART OF PERSUASION .........  Vol. 48, pp. 400-411


Jan 24: Homer's ODYSSEY

Odysseus Silenced the Sirens

When his ship approached the siren's rock, Odysseus stuffed
the ears of his crew with wax and had himself bound to the mast
that he might hear the alluring voice of the siren and yet not
wreck his ship on the enchanted rock.

Read from Homer's ODYSSEY ..................   Vol. 22, pp. 165-173


Jan 25: TO A MOUSE and Burns' other poems

A Field Mouse Made Famous

A humble Scotchman, plowing his fields, turns over the nest of
a frightened mouse. He apologizes with the deepest sincerity
and explains how "the best-laid schemes o' mice an' men gang
aft agley."

Read: To A MOUSE and Burns' other poems.......  Vol. 6, pp. 119-120, 388-394


Jan 26: Herodotus' AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT

In the Cradle of Civilization

A king who entombed his daughter in a golden cow—the worship
of the bull and the cat—scandal of the court and the gossip
of the temples is given by Herodotus in his delightful story of
old Egypt.

Read from Herodotus' AN ACCOUNT OF ECYPT ......  Vol. 33, pp. 65-75


Jan 27: Dante's DIVINE COMEDY

Dante and Beatrice in Paradise

Dante fell madly in love with Beatrice at first sight; but it is
doubted if he ever spoke to her in this world. He tells of his
happy meeting with Beatrice in Paradise.

Read from Dante's DIVINE COMEDY ......  Vol. 20, pp. 267-279


Jan 28: Thomas a Kempis

Man's Wings

A pure heart, says Thomas a Kempis, comprehends the very
depths of Heaven and Hell. And it is by the wings of simplicity
and purity that man is lifted above all earthly things.

Read from Thomas a Kempis .................   Vol. 7, pp. 242-249


Jan 29: Darwin's VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE

Visits the Land of Fire

South of Patagonia is Tierra del Fuego—"The Land of Fire."
The natives of that primitive country are to-day almost extinct.
Darwin made a careful and vitally interesting study of that land
and its ill-fated inhabitants.

Read from Darwin's VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE .....  Vol. 29, 209-221


Jan 30: Sophocles' ANTIGONE

First Problem Play Popular

Antigone, an orphan princess, defies a king's mandate and risks
her life to do her duty to her brother. What is this duty which
her brother calls her to perform and the king forbids?

Read from Sophocles' ANTIGONE .............  Vol. 8, pp. 255-266


Jan 31: DON QUIXOTE

What "Don Quixote " Really Slew

Slayer of windmills, rescuer of fair damsels in distress, eccentric
Don Quixote, scores of years behind his time, set out on a mad
quest of knight-errantry. Worlds of fun and killing satire are
in this absorbing story of Cervantes.

Read from DON QUIXOTE .......................    Vol. 14, pp. 60-67