Handbook of Universal Literature, From the Best and Latest Authorities

"Handbook of Universal Literature, From the Best and Latest Authorities" by Anne C. Lynch Botta is a literary guide created in the 1800s to give readers a big picture of literature from around the world, including its history and the contributions from different cultures. The book starts with a note about why it was updated, pointing out that new writers and cultures, like Japan, needed to be added. The beginning part explains how different alphabets and writing systems are connected, like how the Phoenician alphabet influenced the Greek one. The book focuses on understanding literature by looking at the historical events and cultural influences that shaped it.