Companionable Books

Companionable Books is a collection of essays by Henry Van Dyke, a renowned American author, educator, and clergyman. The book contains ten essays that explore the joys and benefits of reading, and the role that books can play in enriching our lives. Van Dyke's writing is both insightful and engaging, as he shares his personal experiences with various books and authors, and offers his thoughts on the value of literature in our lives. He covers a wide range of topics, from the pleasures of reading poetry to the importance of cultivating a love of books in children.Throughout the book, Van Dyke emphasizes the power of books to connect us with others and to help us understand ourselves and the world around us. He argues that reading is not just a solitary activity, but a social one, as we share our thoughts and experiences with others through the books we read.Overall, Companionable Books is a thoughtful and inspiring collection of essays that celebrates the joys of reading and encourages us to make books a central part of our lives. It is a must-read for anyone who loves literature and wants to deepen their appreciation for the written word.1922. From the Preface: Many books are dry and dusty, there is no juice in them; and many are soon exhausted, you would no more go back to them than to a squeezed orange; but some have in them an unfailing sap, both from the tree of knowledge and from the tree of life. By companionable books I mean those that are worth taking with you on a journey, where the weight of luggage counts, or keeping beside your bed, near the night-lamp; books that will bear reading often, and the more slowly you read them the better you enjoy them; books that not only tell you how things look and how people behave, but also interpret nature and life to you, in language of beauty and power touched with the personality of the author, so that they have a real voice audible to your spirit in the silence. Here I have written about a few of these books which have borne me good company, in one way or another, and about their authors, who have put the best of themselves into their work. Such criticism as the volume contains is therefore mainly in the form of appreciation with reasons for it. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.#This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.