Discourses in America - Classic American Literature & Historical Speeches Collection | Perfect for Book Clubs, Academic Studies & History Enthusiasts

First edition: 1885Matthew Arnold brought his classical education to bear on the issues of his day, which seem to be the issues of our day as well:"... Plato’s account of the most gifted and brilliant community of the ancient world, of that Athens of his to which we all owe so much, is despondent enough. ‘There is but a very small remnant,’ he says, ‘of honest followers of wisdom, and they who are of these few, and who have tasted how sweet and blessed a possession is wisdom, and who can fully see, moreover, the madness of the multitude, and that there is no one, we may say, whose action in public matters is sound, and no ally for whosoever would help the just, what,’ asks Plato, ‘are they to do?'"All three "discourses" (essays or lectures, really) are fine, if not outstanding, specimens of Arnold's style. The first, "Numbers," has some interesting Greek history:‘The grandeur and loftiness of Attic democracy had vanished, while all the pernicious germs contained in it were fully developed. A life of comfort and a craving for amusement were encouraged in every way, and the interest of the citizens was withdrawn from serious things. Conversation became more and more superficial and frivolous. Famous courtesans formed the chief topic of talk; the new inventions of Thearion, the leading pastry-cook in Athens, were hailed with loud applause; and the witty sayings which had been uttered in gay circles were repeated about town as matters of prime importance. [...]Yes;—and yet at the close of that administration of Eubulus came the collapse, and the end of Athens as an independent State. And it was to the fault of Athens herself that the collapse was owing. Plato was right after all; the majority were bad, and the remnant were impotent.'The second lecture, on "Literature and Science" also scores some points for classical education. At any rate, he is right to point out that though science may answer the human desire for knowledge, the desire for beauty and 'conduct' must come from elsewhere.The third lecture is on Emerson:When I come to this country, where Emerson now counts for so much, and where such high claims are made for him, I pull myself together, and ask myself what the truth about this object of my youthful admiration really is. Improper elements often come into our estimate of men. [...] I set myself, therefore, resolutely to come at a real estimate of Emerson, and with a leaning even to strictness rather than to indulgence. That is the safer course. Time has no indulgence; any veils of illusion which we may have left around an object because we loved it, Time is sure to strip away.This is the last sentence in the book: 'To us he shows for guidance his lucid freedom, his cheerfulness and hope; to you his dignity, delicacy, serenity, elevation."The e-book is well-formatted and proofread. Arnold is so old-fashioned that no one argues like him today, which paradoxically makes him something at times seem downright fresh.