A minor classic of American literature, The Man Without a Country was written in the midst of the Civil War to bring home the emotional point of leaving the Union with no prospect of returning. The character is fictitious but many of the events and situations described are historically accurate. This short piece captures the essence of patriotism from the flip side -- and the remorse of having taken a youthful stand of defiance.

Seven essays by Robert Louis Stevenson on writing techniques, style, the profession, realism, and notes about his most famous two novels: Treasure Island and The Master of Ballantrae.

Ambrose Bierce runs through a catalog of misuse of the English language as it should be spoken and written by Americans. Though his list is 100 years old, he was so meticulous that it would benefit any writer to consult it.

Late in his life, the intrepid traveler and translator Richard Francis Burton, distilled his understanding of story as it applied to live performance into this book, How to See a Play. The title implies that most people watch plays, but don't really perceive the structure of the storytelling, and that they would benefit from his experience with how, and why, the theatrical experience has been so powerful. Here is his preface: This book is aimed squarely at the theater-goer. It hopes to offer a concise general treatment upon the use of the theater, so that the person in the seat may get the...

Clifford David has spent over fifty years of his life on Broadway stages, especially in musical theater, in the movies, in a number of TV serials. A life member of The Actors Theater, he has worked with Lucille Ball, Marilyn Monroe, Richard Burton, Sir Laurence Olivier and other stars and directors. He shares some insights into the inner life of theatre, especially musical theater. You can see his impressive record of appearances online. In this book, he shares the deep early life lessons that led him in later life to sustain such a public and successful career. ese include his Lebanese...