Annie Fields

Reproduction of the original. The publishing house Megali specialises in reproducing historical works in large print to make reading easier for people with impaired vision.

Reproduction of the original. The publishing house Megali specialises in reproducing historical works in large print to make reading easier for people with impaired vision.

Every year when the lilac buds begin to burst their sheaths and until the full-blown clusters have spent themselves in the early summer air, the remembrance of Longfellow-something of his presence-wakes with us in the morning and recurs with every fragrant breeze. "Now is the time to come to Cambridge," he would say; "the lilacs are getting ready to receive you." It was the most natural thing in the world that he should care for this common flower, because in spite of a fine separateness from dusty levels which everyone felt who approached him, he was first of all a seer of beauty in common things and a singer to the universal heart. Perhaps no one of the masters who have touched the spirits of humanity to finer issues has been more affectionately followed through his ways and haunts than Longfellow. But the lives of men and women "who rule us from their urns" have always been more or less cloistral. Public curiosity appeared to be stimulated rather than lessened in Longfellow's case by the general acquaintance with his familiar figureand by his unceasing hospitality. He was a tender father, a devoted friend, and a faithful citizen, and yet something apart and different from all these.

"Authors and Friends" is a collection of essays written by Annie Fields, a prominent literary figure of the late 19th century. The book includes personal reflections on her relationships with several authors of the era, including Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and John Greenleaf Whittier, among others. Fields provides unique insights into the personalities and creative processes of these writers, offering a glimpse into their private lives and the social circles in which they moved. She also includes essays on the publishing industry, including discussions on the importance of book covers and the role of publishers in shaping the literary landscape. Throughout the book, Fields presents herself as an avid reader and literary enthusiast, expressing her admiration for the works of these authors and celebrating the importance of literature in shaping society.

The book "" Authors and Friends "" has been considered important throughout the human history, and so that this work is never forgotten we have made efforts in its preservation by republishing this book in a modern format for present and future generations. This whole book has been reformatted, retyped and designed. These books are not made of scanned copies and hence the text is clear and readable.