TAO is the "x" or unknown quantity that we have to find.And the first thing to be done is to see what is predicated of this mysterious Thing; how it is described; with what attributes it is credited; where it is to be found; whence it sprang, how it exists, and what its functions are. Then we may find ourselves in a position to discover what it is that answers to these particulars, and profanely to give a name to that which its preachers themselves declared must be for ever nameless...

Excerpt: "It was rather a beautiful old house—the house where Austin lived. That is, it was old-fashioned, low-browed, solid, and built of that peculiar sort of red brick which turns a rich rose-colour with age; and this warm rosy tint was set off to advantage by the thick mantle of dark green ivy in which it was partly encased, and by the row of tall white and purple irises which ran along the whole length of the sunniest side of the building." This edition has been fully restored with mo...

Frederic Henry Balfour (18611931) was a British author, translator, and scholar known for his works on Chinese language, culture, and literature. He is particularly noted for his translations of Chinese classics and his contributions to the understanding of Chinese philosophy and religion in the West.While Balfour is primarily recognized for his scholarly works related to China, it's possible that "Austin and His Friends" may be a departure from his usual subject matter, although without m...

First Published in 2000. This is Volume I of five of a series on China, written in 1887 this is a collection of notes and observations from the author's time in China and includes topics such as the First Emperor, the Fifth Prince, Taoist Hermits and the Seven Wonders of Corea

IT occasionally happens that a sudden ray of clear and valuable light is thrown upon a long-disputed subject from a source the very existence of which was unsuspected, and the authority of which would certainly never have been allowed. Just as an accident may reveal what generations of scientific men have laboured in vain to discover: just as a rank outsider may win a race, or the dart, shot at a venture, bit the bull's-eye when trained archers have discharged a quiversfull of arrows witho...

In "Austin and His Friends," Frederic Henry Balfour explores the intricate dynamics of personal relationships amongst a group of intellectuals in a late Victorian context. Balfour employs a rich, descriptive prose style that delves into the inner lives of his characters, revealing their philosophical musings and social dilemmas. The novel deftly intertwines themes of friendship, morality, and the evolving landscape of thought in a rapidly changing society, evoking both the optimism and the...

TAO is the "x" or unknown quantity that we have to find. And the first thing to be done is to see what is predicated of this mysterious Thing; how it is described; with what attributes it is credited; where it is to be found; whence it sprang, how it exists, and what its functions are. Then we may find ourselves in a position to discover what it is that answers to these particulars, and profanely to give a name to that which its preachers themselves declared must be for ever nameless.

It was rather a beautiful old house--the house where Austin lived. That is, it was old-fashioned, low-browed, solid, and built of that peculiar sort of red brick which turns a rich rose-colour with age; and this warm rosy tint was set off to advantage by the thick mantle of dark green ivy in which it was partly encased, and by the row of tall white and purple irises which ran along the whole length of the sunniest side of the building. There was an ancient sun-dial just above the door, and...

In "Austin and His Friends," Frederic Henry Balfour delves into the intricate tapestry of personal relationships and intellectual exchanges within the circle of influential thinkers during the late 19th century. This richly woven narrative combines biographical sketches with a reflective analysis of the philosophical ideas that shaped the characters' lives, utilizing a literary style that merges vivid storytelling with poignant introspection. Set against the backdrop of an era marked by ra...

Tao Te Ching World's Best CollectionThis is the best Tao Te Ching Collection available, including the most important and famous translations, interpretations and writings about the Tao, desitned to help you achieve the strength and calming power of the Tao Te Ching; to help you achieve a stress free life, feel in control and empowered – to help you achieve all that the Tao has helped millions do for 2000 yearsWhat Is Tao?The Tao Te ...

20 Must Read Ghost Novels surveys the haunted house, spectral visitation, ancestral curse, and psychological apparition across more than a century of Gothic fiction. Moving from early terror fiction and Victorian sensation to fin-de-siècle decadence, imperial adventure, and cosmic horror, the volume reveals how ghosts serve as figures of grief, inheritance, desire, social transgression, and metaphysical doubt. Its selections encompass melodramatic plotting, antiquarian atmosphere, domestic...

The Curse of the Undead gathers twenty classic ghost novels into an expansive survey of supernatural fiction from the Gothic revival through late Victorian and early twentieth-century horror. Its selections range from ancestral hauntings, cursed houses, and revenants to occult investigations, psychological unease, and sensational mysteries. Gothic romance, maritime terror, detective plotting, decadent fantasy, and proto-cosmic horror coexist here, revealing how the ghost story repeatedly t...