ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON (1849-94). _Familiar Studies of Men and Books._ _Memories and Portraits._ _An Inland Voyage._ _Travels with a Donkey._ The best thoughts of this romancer and some of the best of his writing are in his essays. JONATHAN SWIFT (1667-1745). _Selected Prose._ Selections from his prose writings are to be found in a volume of the _Camelot Series_ and also in a small volume published by D. Appleton & Co. Not until the reader is familiar with “Gulliver’s Travels” and has some understanding of Swift’s life and the historical background of his work, can he feel the genius of the satirical essays and political lampoons. Swift is often repellent to those who only half understand him, but he grows in power and dignity to those who appreciate his underlying righteousness. WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY (1811-63). _Book of Snobs._ _Roundabout Papers._ _From Cornhill to Cairo._ _English Humorists._ Thackeray is an essayist by temperament and shows it in his novels. His satirical and literary essays may be reserved until after one has read his novels, but they will not be overlooked by anyone who likes Thackeray or who likes good essays. HENRY DAVID THOREAU (1817-62). _A Week on the Concord and Merrimac Rivers._ _Walden._ _Excursions._ _The Maine Woods._ _Cape Cod._ _Spring._ _Summer._ _Winter._ _Autumn._ Thoreau’s work is one long autobiographical journal ranging from brief diary notes on nature to full rounded essays. A prose poet of nature, and second to Emerson only as a philosophic essayist on nature and society. His greatness becomes more and more evident in an age when “nature writers” are popular. IZAAK WALTON (1593-1683). _The Complete Angler._ In _Everyman’s Library_. CHARLES DUDLEY WARNER (1829-1900). _In the Wilderness._ _As We Go._ _Backlog Studies._ _In the Levant._ A charming essayist, a humorous lover of books and nature. His reputation has waned somewhat during the past twenty years, but Americans cannot afford to lose sight of him. DANIEL WEBSTER (1782-1852). _Speeches and Orations._ In one volume, published by Little, Brown & Co. The literary quality of Webster’s orations entitles them to a place among American essays. CHAPTER X THE READING OF FOREIGN CLASSICS