Books in Cosimo Classics Philogophy series

First published in 1876, this is the story of soldier and adventurer Frederick Burnaby's fascinating and dangerous journey from the steppes of southern Russia to the city of Khiva in what is now Uzbekistan. Part travelogue and part daring exploits, Burnaby's entertaining account will appeal to armchair travelers, fans of adventure fiction, and anyone interested in firsthand accounts of the Great Game, when the Russian and British Empires vied for control of Central Asia. British soldier and writer FREDERICK BURNABY (1842-1885) was a member of the Royal Horse Guards, and in 1882, he became the first balloonist to cross the English Channel alone. Three years later, he died from a spear wound sustained in battle in the Sudan. He also wrote On Horseback Through Asia Minor (1878).

"This short book, first published in 1897, addresses three geometry puzzles that have been passed down from ancient times. Written for high school students, this book aims to show a younger audience why math should matter and to make the problems found in math intriguing. Klein presents for his readers an investigation of the possibility or impossibility of finding solutions for the following problems in light of mathematics available to him: ¿ duplication of the cube ¿ trisection of an angle ¿ quadrature of the circle Mathematicians and students of the history of math will find this an intriguing work. German mathematician FELIX KLEIN (1849¿1925), a great teacher and scientific thinker, significantly advanced the field of mathematical physics and made a number of profound discoveries in the field of geometry. His published works include Elementary Mathematics from an Advanced Standpoint: Arithmetic, Algebra, Analysis and Elementary Mathematics from an Advanced Standpoint: Geometry."

A philosophical exploration in the form of a classical dialogue such as Aristotle or his pupils might have written, these fanciful-and imaginary-debates pit Philonous, representing author Berkeley, against Hylas, generally accepted to represent Berkeley's adversary in British empiricism John Locke. Matters of skepticism, perception, materialism, and more are discussed in entertaining and enlightening fashion. First published in 1713, this is a curious artifact of an earlier age of philosophy that will bemuse and amuse readers of classic literature. Irish scientist, philosopher, and writer GEORGE BERKELEY (1685-1753) also wrote An Essay Towards a New Theory of Vision (1709) and A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge (1710).

Still one of the most enchanting astronomy books for children, this 1918 work frames the addictive habit of gazing at the night sky as a series of brief story-lessons given by "Doctor Lorry" to young Helen, who wants nothing more than to learn the names of all the beautiful stars in the firmament. Complete with simple illustrations that beginning stargazers of all ages will appreciate, this is an informative and entertaining introduction to the wonders of the celestial realms. American author GERTRUDE CHANDLER WARNER (1890-1979) is best remembered for The Boxcar Children, her series of books for young readers.

I have neither been miserable because of the ill-feeling of those about me, nor indifferent to popular approval, and I think, upon the whole, I have passed a tolerably cheerful and even joyful life. I have never felt myself isolated since I entered the field to plead the cause of the slave, and demand equal rights for all. In every town and city where it has been my lot to speak, there have been raised up for me friends of both colors to cheer and strengthen me in my work. I have always felt, too, that I had on my side all the invisible forces of the moral government of the universe. -from Chapter 17: "Incidents and Events" American icon FREDERICK DOUGLASS (1818-1895)-editor, orator, author, statesman, and reformer-told his life story three times. First, in 1845's Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, he felt it necessary to explain how a man born in chains could rise to national prominence and respect. In 1855, with My Bondage and My Freedom, he expanded upon his story with a more in-depth and even more thoughtful exploration of his life as a slave and his journey to escape it. (Both astonishing-and essential-books are also available from Cosimo.) His third autobiography, The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass-first published in 1881 and presented here in the thoroughly revised 1892 edition-is his most reflective, offering the perspective of a man at the end of long life well lived. Douglass retells the story of his childhood and escape from slavery, offering details that he could not previously reveal, with friends, family, and other innocents still in the thrall of slavemasters. Now, though, with the Civil War and Emancipation well behind the nation, Douglass can also offer more provocative analyses of his own battle for personal freedom and his fight for the very soul of the nation. This classic of African-American literature and of 19th-century American history is a must-read for anyone wishing to consider himself well-read.

In this rarely read fable, Van Dyke explores the meaning of charity and genuine goodness when it comes to leading a good religious life. John Weightman believed firmly in his proper accounting of life. But, on Christmas Eve, when his son rages against the wisdom of prospering at the cost of one's soul, John questions the laws that have guided him to money and influence. Van Dyke's exhortation against materialism rings as true now as it ever has, encouraging all readers to examine the meaning of their own lives. American author and clergyman HENRY VAN DYKE (1852-1933) was pastor of Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City from 1883 to 1899 and professor of English literature at Princeton University from 1899 to 1923. He wrote numerous books of poetry and devotion, including Little Rivers (1895), The Other Wise Man (1896), and Fisherman's Luck (1899).

Martha Summerhayes was a respectable Victorian lady when she left civilized society behind, in 1874, to follow her cavalry-officer husband West, to the Wyoming Territory and then to unknown and inaccessible Arizona. Written "at the urgent and ceaseless request" of her children and first published in 1908, this compulsively readable account of her life on the frontier is a unique document of the American exploration and settling of the West, offering a little-heard woman's perspective on an historical era that continues to echo in contemporary American society. From the deprivations of her kitchen-where she has no choice but to make do with army pots and pans designed for cooking for dozens-to terrifying encounters with wildlife, attacks by Indians, and the challenge of giving birth alone, Summerhayes' indomitable spirit and sense of adventure shines through.

It is perhaps one of the best known and most influential novels in all of literature: 1897's Dracula didn't merely inspire countless adaptations for stage and film, it invented an entire genre of horror: the vampire story, which continues to evolve today into wildly varied directions, from noir detective pastiches (the vampire as night-owl P.I.) to tween romances (the vampire as dreamy but distant boyfriend). Anyone who wants to know where it all began must read this 1897 work, still startling and still terrifying even today. The story of English solicitor Jonathan Harker and his strange new client, Transylvanian aristocrat Count Dracula, this is the classic work of Victorian gothic horror, the continuing eerie wellspring of many of our cultural fantasies and nightmares. Irish author ABRAHAM STOKER (1847-1912) worked for more than a quarter of a century as manager of the West End's Lyceum Theatre, which drew him into London's literary and artists circles; he was a friend of such luminaries as writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and painter James Abbott McNeill Whistler. Stoker is also the author of The Lair of the White Worm (1911), among other books.