This volume "explores the origins of our Martian obsession in the late nineteenth century" and examines "the way turn-of-the-century Americans and Europeans thought about space, knowledge, and power." The author paints a picture of how "scientists and the public saw [Mars] around the beginning of the 20th century, when canals on the Red Planet seemed a very real possibility." It is a story of mountain observatories, of fieldwork conducted at a distance, and of how Mars's geographers sought social and scientific legitimacy, exploring how astronomy and geography intersected in the debates over the existence of life on Mars.

Frank Parsons's 'The World's Best Books: A Key to the Treasures of Literature' is a comprehensive guide that provides readers with an insight into some of the greatest literary works of all time. Parsons carefully selects and analyzes a wide range of books, covering various genres and time periods, making this book a must-read for literature enthusiasts. With its engaging writing style and detailed exploration of each selected book, this work serves as a valuable resource for anyone interested in expanding their literary horizons. The book is not only informative but also serves as a guide for readers to discover new and exciting works of literature.Frank Parsons, a renowned literary critic, draws on his vast knowledge and expertise to curate this collection of the world's best books. His passion for literature and meticulous attention to detail shine through in this book, making it a truly enriching read. Parsons's background as a literary scholar and educator provides readers with a trustworthy guide to navigating the vast landscape of literature.I highly recommend 'The World's Best Books: A Key to the Treasures of Literature' to anyone looking to expand their reading list and delve into the world of classic and contemporary literature. Whether you are a seasoned reader or just starting your literary journey, this book is sure to inspire and educate, opening up a world of literary treasures for you to explore.

Popular American essayist, novelist, and journalist CHARLES DUDLEY WARNER (1829-1900) was renowned for the warmth and intimacy of his writing, which encompassed travelogue, biography and autobiography, fiction, and more, and influenced entire generations of his fellow writers. Here, the prolific writer turned editor for his final grand work, a splendid survey of global literature, classic and modern, and it's not too much to suggest that if his friend and colleague Mark Twain-who stole Warner's quip about how "everybody complains about the weather, but nobody does anything about it"-had assembled this set, it would still be hailed today as one of the great achievements of the book world. Highlights from Volume 16 include: . excerpts from Edward Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire . poems BY Richard Watson Gilder . scenes from Faust by Goethe . the writings of Nikolai Vasilievitch Gogol . excerpts from Oliver Goldsmith's The Vicar of Wakefield . selections from Ulysses S. Grant's memoirs . the elegies and odes of Thomas Gray . and much, much more.

What if you could not only travel any location in the world, but to any possible world? We can all imagine such “other worlds”—be they worlds just slightly different than our own or worlds full of magic and wonder—but it is only in fiction that we can travel to them. From The Wizard of Oz to The Dark Tower, from Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass to C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia, there is a rich tradition of this kind of fiction, but never before have the best parallel world stories and portal fantasies been collected in a single volume—until now.