Nineteenth Century Questions

"Nineteenth Century Questions" by James Freeman Clarke is a compilation of essays exploring the hot topics of the late 1800s. The author looks at literature, religion, philosophy, and history, connecting different ideas and cultures. The essays cover a lot, including the divide in national identity, the study of books, similarities between Buddhism and Christianity, and changes in poetry. The book starts by talking about the difference between personal and impersonal writing in books, using the ideas of "lyric" and "dramatic." Clarke considers how authors show these qualities, using examples from famous English writers like Chaucer, Spenser, Shakespeare, and Milton, showing how a writer's style affects their stories and art. This sets the stage for a bigger look at literary and cultural topics that link personal and group experiences in different ways.