America: Classics that Help Define the NationThe Modern Library presents America, the fifth in its series of anthologies, following Christmas Classics, Mothers, The Raven and the Monkey's Paw, and Love. This original collection features classic songs, poems, stories, speeches, and extracts from works that have helped define America--the nation and the people--and establish its national character. America begins with the Compact the Mayflower pilgrims made before landing at Plymouth Rock, then sets out across the succeeding centuries to present a few of the great moments in American history as captured in words. From the thrill of "Paul Revere's Ride" to the wonders described in the journals of Lewis and Clark, from the political fire of Thoreau's Civil Disobedience and the drama of Frederick Douglass's narrative of slavery to the lyricism and power of the "Battle-Hymn of the Republic," this is a collection that reaches deep into the history of America and the fabric of the country. Ulysses S. Grant describes the battle of Shiloh; contemporary chroniclers paint portraits of legendary figures like Jesse James, Wild Bill Hickok, and Billy the Kid. Great novelists like Dickens, Dreiser, Melville, James, Sinclair, and Cather describe their Americas. Five famous speeches represent the powerful oratorical tradition of American public life, and songs and anthems like "Yankee Doodle" and "America the Beautiful" round out the collection. This anthology attempts to portray America's past and what made the country what it is today, drawing on some of the great writers whose words have inspired and moved millions. |
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Page 118
... Tennessee followed her , and where they went to housekeeping without the aid of a justice of the peace . Tennessee's Partner took the loss of his wife simply and seriously , as was his fash- ion . But to everybody's surprise , when ...
... Tennessee followed her , and where they went to housekeeping without the aid of a justice of the peace . Tennessee's Partner took the loss of his wife simply and seriously , as was his fash- ion . But to everybody's surprise , when ...
Page 119
... Tennessee was hunted in very much the same fashion as his prototype , the grizzly . As the toils closed around him ... Tennessee , quietly . " Two bowers and an ace , " said the stranger , as quietly , showing two revolvers and a bowie ...
... Tennessee was hunted in very much the same fashion as his prototype , the grizzly . As the toils closed around him ... Tennessee , quietly . " Two bowers and an ace , " said the stranger , as quietly , showing two revolvers and a bowie ...
Page 121
... Tennessee's pardner - knowing him nigh on four year , off and on , wet and dry , in luck and out o ' luck . His ways ... Tennessee's Partner . " It ain't for me to say anything agin ' him . And now , what's the case ? Here's Tennessee ...
... Tennessee's pardner - knowing him nigh on four year , off and on , wet and dry , in luck and out o ' luck . His ways ... Tennessee's Partner . " It ain't for me to say anything agin ' him . And now , what's the case ? Here's Tennessee ...
Contents
Preface | 3 |
The Character of George Washington by Thomas Jefferson | 21 |
From The Oregon Trail The Frontier by Francis Parkman | 33 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
American arms army battle bayou beautiful Bill Billy the Kid Blue Bluff boys Bret Harte brown Buell cabin called camp Captain Chéri Civil command Creek dark dead death door enemy eyes face feet feller fire Folle forest Fort Sumner freedmen frog front Garrett give grave Gray hand Harlem houses hundred hunters Hurrah Hurstwood Indian Jesse James John Burns judgment day Julia Ward Jurgis knew land lived look marching McClernand meat miles Mississippi morning Mountains nation Negro never night officers once Pat Garrett Pete Maxwell prairie river Sandtown Shelby Foote Sherman Shiloh side singing slaves Smiley star-spangled banner stood story street Tennessee Tennessee's Partner thing thought took town trees troops W.E.B. Du Bois Waiting the judgment Washington wilderness window women