Description: By presenting more than 75 personal essays, including influential forerunners from ancient Greece, Rome, and the Far East, masterpieces from the 16th century, and a wealth of the finest from the last four centuries, Lopate displays the tradition of the personal essay in all its grandeur, depth and diversity.
Review Quotes: "A wonderful book. The most charming smorgasbord imaginable of essays from around the world." -- Diane Cole, USA Today.
"Without a doubt, this is the most nourishing essay collection I've read in years." -- Susan Burmeister-Brown, Portland Oregonian. "A labor of deeply felt love and keenly honed scholarship by an essay authority who knows his territory down to his bones." -- Christian Science Monitor. "The best available [essay anthology] no matter how crowded the field." -- Chicago Tribune. "The striking thing is how much Lopate has managed to pack in, and how high a standard he has managed to maintain." -- John Gross, New York Newsday. "Packed with personality and beguiling first-person prose... of reminders of the perils and pleasures of the craft." -- The Wall Street Journal.