Non-Fiction Books

Alcibiades (ca. 450 BC-ca. 404 BC), was the charismatic and controversial bisexual Athenian general and politician who promoted the Peloponnesian war against rival Sparta, who subsequently inspired Athens's failed Sicilian Expedition, and who later allied himself with two of Athens's biggest enemies: Sparta and Persia. His actions gravely affected the future of Athens and his motives and reasons for acting as he did are indeed the stuff of fascinating biography. Alcibiades's extraordinary beauty, great wealth, ostentatious vanity, male and female amours, debaucheries, and impious revels earned him notoriety not only in Athens but throughout the Hellenic world. In subsequent ages his name was used as a near by-word for all kinds of excess. But, as Benson argues, reappraising Alcibiades's reputation, great as were his vices, his virtues were even greater ... Although The Life of Alcibiades was originally published in 1928, and there have been other newer detailed works published on Alcibiades since then, no other work captures the passion and the excitement of the brilliant but erratic career of Alcibiades as Benson's biography does. As the reader will discover, Benson evidently has much sympathy for his subject and this brings the entire biography to life. He combines detailed research, especially his use of primary materials from Thucydides and Plutarch, with writing flare, not an easy accomplishment. Front cover photograph: "Alcibiades", Ideal Male Portrait. Marble. Roman copy after a Greek original of the 4th century BC. Palazzo dei Conservatori, Hall of the Triumphs. Back cover photograph: E. F. Benson, aged 26.

Memories of late Victorian and Edwardian England -- Benson's recollection oddities and famous persons.

This memoir spans the whole life of E.F. Benson (1867-1940), describing his family and London snobs, literary sybils and the Lotus Eaters of Capri - where he shared a house with John Ellingham Brooks and Somerset Maugham and where his neighbours included Norman Douglas, Compton Mackenzie, Axel Munthe and Maxim Gorki. He evokes the little world of Rye, immortalized in "Mapp and Lucia", where he gloried in the splendid robes of Lord Mayor, happy to end as "a big fish in a small pond". "Final Edition" is Benson's own final tribute to those he loved, completed ten days before his death. E.F. Benson, one of six children of the Archbishop of Canterbury, wrote biography, essays, memoirs and fiction, including such novels as "Paying Guests" and the "Mapp and Lucia" series. A previous memoir, "As We Were" is also published by Hogarth.

This book's pages contains the classic biography of Queen Victoria by E. F. Benson. Using sources such letters and other writings Benson provides an immensely interesting insight in the woman, wide, mother and Queen that is Victoria. Ben was a prolific writer of his time producing over 90 works. Queen Victoria was first published in 1935 and is here republished with an introductory biography of the author.

World War I brings about many social changes in Britain that leave Lord and Lady Buryan completely at a loss

This book's pages contains the classic account of Queen Victoria's daughters by E. F. Benson. Using sources such letters and other writings Benson provides an immensely interesting insight into each of Victoria's daughters and their relationships with their mother and their royalty. Ben was a prolific writer of his time producing over 90 works. Queen Victoria's Daughters was first published in 1938 and is here republished with an introductory biography of the author.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This collection of literature attempts to compile many of the classic works that have stood the test of time and offer them at a reduced, affordable price, in an attractive volume so that everyone can enjoy them.