Our Riverside Literature Series journey began innocently at a library book sale.  Scanning the room for bargains my eyes spied a ragged paperback hiding in a sea of hardback books. It’s cover was faded, it’s edges stained and worn while penciled in notes indicated dutiful study. Gingerly, I opened the cover to spy a copyright date of 1896. Imagine, over a century ago someone was reading the very book I held in my hands. Not only was it read ages ago, but it was a timeless classic.  Evangeline by H.W. Longfellow.

 

The book included a biographical sketch of Longfellow, a sketch of his home life written by his daughter, a map of the Basin of Minas, the poem Evangeline with notes, illustrations and a pronouncing vocabulary. Jackpot! I was intrigued. I also might have startled a few strangers. Who can not appreciate a happy dance induced by the discovery of a pronunciation guide?

My happy dance intensified when I looked in the front cover. A list. There were more books like this! The Riverside Literature Series was officially discovered in our household and I started to ponder-copyright. These books should be in the public domain which means they could be online for free!  Are there more of the Riverside Literature Series awaiting to enter our electronic world?

Yes!

With the aid of my trusty research assistant (my charming, talented daughter) we uncovered several of these books for you to download. She gained valuable skills in how to use an Excel spreadsheet and we both were introduced to famous authors throughout time. Now I just need to find the time to start reading!

For the next five days we will be sharing our finds. Ten books each day will give you a great start to a classic literature collection. Just think, you will not need an extra bookshelf to hold these 50 books, one reason why I love ebooks so much!

To get you started:

• I’ve provided shortened and/or abbreviated titles which are not necessarily the exact same name Google Books assigns or the exact title of the book. I feel the shortened titles provides a faster way to process the content of the book.
• Most of the books are Google Books, yet a few have been taken from archive.org.
• Click on the link of a book or it’s image to be taken to its download page.
• I’ve tried to detail what was in each book and include number of pages. I didn’t count the advertisements at the end of the books in the page count.
• Google Books-If you wish to download the book directly without using Google Play Books then click on the gear icon located at the top right hand corner of the book page. A drop down menu will appear. Select your download option from this menu.
• Archive.org Books-At archive.org there is a “Download” link under the book image. Click this link for download options. I prefer “Image Container PDF” since it gives you the book in PDF form.
• Note: Send to Kindle is Awesome!

 

Day One eBooks

(Please be sure to get your ebooks (10 books a day) for Day Two, Three, Four and Five!)

 

Longfellow’s Evangeline: archive.org

This is the version of the book I found at the book sale. It’s format is not the best in the world, but it has the features I was talking about earlier. When you zoom in it is readable. (160 pages)

 

Longfellow’s Evangeline: Google eBook

This format is better, yet its features are lacking. “sigh” (102 pages)

 

Longfellow’s Courtship of Miles Standish

Introduction, Scripture References, The Courtship of Miles Standish with Notes (90 pages)

 

Longfellow’s Courtship of Miles Standish (Dramatized)

No, you are not seeing double. It’s a dramatized version of the book to be used for “parlor theatricals” and “school exhibitions” arranged in seven scenes. (50 pages)

 

Whittier’s Snow-Bound and Other Poems

Biographical Sketch, Map of Region Celebrated in Whittier’s Poems, Snow-Bound, Among the Hills, Songs of Labor, Other Selected Poems with Explanatory Notes (87 pages)

• After page 87 you will find another book “Mabel Martin, and Other Poems With Explanatory Notes” (92 pages)

 

Whittier’s Mabel Martin, and Other Poems

In case you want the book solo without “Snow-Bound” and other poems. However, it stops at page 64 omitting some poems the other book includes. Google Books baffle me at times.

 

Holmes’s Grandmother’s Story of Bunker Hill Battle

Grandmother’s Story and Other Poems With Notes and a Biographical Sketch (96 pages)

 

Hawthorne’s Grandfather’s Chair

Preface, Grandfather’s Chair with Explanatory Notes, Questions for Each Chapter

• The book is three books in one.
• Part II starts at the end of page 69. Questions are at the end of this section.
• Part III starts at the end of page 75. Questions are at the end of this section.

 

Hawthorne’s Biographical Stories

Biographical Stories with Questions: Benjamin West, Sir Issac Newton, Samuel Johnson, Oliver Cromwell, Benjamin Franklin, Queen Christinia (82 pages)

 

Longfellow’s Children’s Hour, and Other Poems

• Biographical Sketch, The Children’s Hour, The Village Blacksmith (pg. 50) one of our favorites, Various Poems with Explanatory Notes
• Paul Revere’s Ride and Other Poems with Explanatory Notes, the beginning starts after page 94 of the above. (92 pages)

 

Studies in Longfellow, Whittier, Holmes, and Lowell

Studies in Longfellow, Whittier, Homes and Lowell. Outlines and Topics for Study with Questions and References. If you are looking to start a study on one of these poets, this would be an interesting read in terms of background and potential conversation starters.

 

 That’s all for Day One!

Hop on over to Day Two, Day Three, Day Four and Day Five for more books!

Looking for more great content?! Head on over to iHomeschool Network’s 5 Day Hopscotch. Great content. Great subjects. Go!

 

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