John Pierpoint was born in 1785 in Litchfield, Connecticut. His career is mainly that of Educator, Pastor and Social Activist. He was particularly strident on Temperance and the abolition of Slavery. Both of these issues caused him to be at odds with entrenched interests but he was not to be deterred and continued the struggle all through his life. After two weeks' service as a 76-year-old military chaplain during the Civil War, Pierpont was given an appointment in the Treasury Department i...

On 29th November 1775 Thomas Jefferson said “Believe me, dear Sir, there is not, in the British Empire, a man who more cordially loves a union with Great Britain than I do. But, by the God that made me, I will cease to exist, before I yield to such a connection on such terms as the British Parliament propose, and in this I think I speak the sentiments of America”. The War for Independence had already started some months previously and with no prospect of a reconciliation it was on the 4th ...

The life and career of a Poet is often thought of as musing at a desk, or lying in a meadow, or on long journeys to find inspiration for their next masterwork. But more often than not a poet was a part-time profession in subservient submission to their actual, salary-paying job.In this volume we bring together those professionals we engage to bring the full force of the law to bear where we have been wronged, either personally or professionally. Despite the complex morals of such w...

Benjamin Franklin compiled these pearls of wisdom on wealth and personal finance from Poor Richard's Almanack. Today is 250th anniversary since the book fist appeared as a pamphlet in 1758. Some proverbs from Benjamin Franklin's Way to Wealth: "There are no gains, without pains" "One today is worth two tomorrows" "Time is money" "A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things" "Get what you can, and what you get hold" "Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears, while the ...

Poetry is a fascinating use of language. With almost a million words at its command it is not surprising that these Isles have produced some of the most beautiful, moving and descriptive verse through the centuries. In this series we look at individual poets who have shaped and influenced their craft and cement their place in our heritage. In this volume we look at the works of the American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. Many samples of his work can be found at our youtube channel http://www....

Benjamin Franklin's classic book is full of timeless, thought-provoking insights that are as valuable today as they were over two centuries ago. With more than 700 pithy proverbs, Franklin lays out the rules everyone should live by and offers advice on such subjects as money, friendship, marriage, ethics, and human nature. They range from the famous "A penny saved is a penny earned" to the lesser-known but equally practical "When the wine enters, out goes the truth." Other truisms like "Fi...

The Isle of Pines is a book by Henry Neville published in 1668. An example of Utopian fiction, the book presents its story through an Epistolary frame: a "Letter to a friend in London, declaring the truth of his Voyage to the East Indies" written by a fictional Dutchman "Henry Cornelius Van Sloetten," concerning the discovery of an island in the southern hemisphere, populated with the descendants of a small group of castaways.The book also has political overtones. Neville was an an...

In "The Sot-weed Factor: or, A Voyage to Maryland. A Satyr," Ebenezer Cooke offers a rich and satirical exploration of 17th-century colonial life in Maryland through the lens of a hapless, yet humorous protagonist. Cooke's verse reflects the poetic traditions of Restoration England, interweaving sharp satire and vivid depictions of the landscape and local customs. His use of the mock-epic style not only entertains but also critiques the excesses and follies of colonial desire and ambition,...

In "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral," Phillis Wheatley, the first published African American poet, intricately weaves her experiences and reflections within a neoclassical framework. Her lyrical style, characterized by its eloquence and graceful meter, explores themes such as religion, morality, and the human experience. Contextually, Wheatley's work emerged during the 18th century, a time fraught with racial tension and the complexities of slavery, which she navigates with ...

In "The Sin and Danger of Self-Love," Robert Cushman embarks on a meticulous theological exploration of the concept of self-love within a Christian framework. Cushman's literary style is characterized by its rigorous philosophical inquiry and eloquent prose, deftly intertwining scripture with psychological insight. Engaging with historical context, he draws upon doctrines from the Church Fathers to contemporary thought, presenting self-love not merely as a psychological phenomenon but as a...

Poetry is a fascinating use of language. With almost a million words at its command it is not surprising that these Isles have produced some of the most beautiful, moving and descriptive verse through the centuries. In this series we look at each calendar month through the eyes and minds of our most gifted poets to bring you a guide to the days within each. This volume of Poetry is all about August - The eighth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar and the full palette of nature is o...

First published in 1834, this volume contains a collection of memoirs and poems by Phillis Wheatley (c. 1753–1784). Wheatley was an American freed slave and poet who wrote the first book of poetry by an African-American. Sold into slavery in West Africa at the age of around seven, she was taken to North America, where she served the Wheatley family of Boston. Phillis was tutored in reading and writing by Mary, the Wheatleys' 18-year-old daughter, and was reading Latin and Greek classics fr...