Companionable Books - Henry Van Dyke - Bog

Companionable Books is a collection of essays by the American author and educator Henry Van Dyke. In this book, Van Dyke explores the value of books as companions in our lives, arguing that they can provide us with comfort, guidance, and inspiration. He discusses a variety of literary works, from classic novels to poetry and essays, and examines how they can offer us different types of companionship. Van Dyke also reflects on his own experiences as a reader and writer, sharing personal anecdotes and insights. Throughout the book, he emphasizes the importance of reading as a way to connect with others and find meaning in life. With its engaging prose and thoughtful reflections, Companionable Books is a timeless tribute to the power of literature.1922. From the Preface: Many books are dry and dusty, there is no juice in them; and many are soon exhausted, you would no more go back to them than to a squeezed orange; but some have in them an unfailing sap, both from the tree of knowledge and from the tree of life. By companionable books I mean those that are worth taking with you on a journey, where the weight of luggage counts, or keeping beside your bed, near the night-lamp; books that will bear reading often, and the more slowly you read them the better you enjoy them; books that not only tell you how things look and how people behave, but also interpret nature and life to you, in language of beauty and power touched with the personality of the author, so that they have a real voice audible to your spirit in the silence. Here I have written about a few of these books which have borne me good company, in one way or another, and about their authors, who have put the best of themselves into their work. Such criticism as the volume contains is therefore mainly in the form of appreciation with reasons for it. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.#This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.