"The eighteen stories in this volume have been chosen with a thought to their educative value as well as for the intrinsic charm of the original narratives, which in various forms have delighted many generations of readers. All have a literary interest connecting them with subjects with which every educated person is supposed to be familiar... "While you are reading this wonder-book of horses and finding entertainment in the biographies of winged steeds and war horses, of knights-errant and godlike heroes, you are really doing something more-you are making acquaintance with some of those wonderful and beautiful conceptions which in the form of classic literature have come down to us through the ages." - from the introduction by the author.
James Baldwin
James Baldwin was an American novelist, essayist, and playwright known for his exploration of race, sexuality, and identity in America. His most notable works include "Go Tell It on the Mountain," "The Fire Next Time," and "If Beale Street Could Talk." Baldwin's writing style was characterized by his powerful and eloquent prose, which delved deeply into the complexities of the human experience. He was a prominent voice in the civil rights movement and his works continue to be celebrated for their insight and impact on American literature. His most famous work, "The Fire Next Time," is a seminal text on race in America and remains a classic of 20th-century literature. Baldwin's contributions to literature have had a lasting influence on the genre of African American literature and continue to be studied and revered by readers and scholars alike.