For a new generation which is fast losing the pleasure that books can bring, perhaps Fifty Famous Stories Retold could serve as a springboard and encourage them to rediscover the joy of reading. Time Travel Ancient Rome Agora of Athens & 7 Tales on Diogenes the Cynic Around the early fourth century BCE, a curious man by the name of Diogenes was said to have lived in a large ceramic jar in the Athenian marketplace. In Baldwin's own words, the encounter with good literature and good books was what spurred him to develop the reading habit. The original contains charming illustrations. This tapestry is one of a set of six depicting scenes from the life of the Greek philosopher, Diogenes of Sinope (c.412323 bc), one of the founders of. Hence we find old favorites like Dick Whittington's Cat, The Story of Robin Hood and George Washington and His Hatchet alongside less familiar ones like Inchcape Rock, Doctor Goldsmith or Diogenes the Wise. Baldwin remarks that he took care not to include myths, fairytales and fables. Folktales, legends and ballads also are a rich source. They are taken from a variety of sources. Some of the stories were selected for their historical value, others for the moral truths they convey, while some are intended solely to amuse. It was widely known that he urinated, defecated, and masturbated in public, to show his contempt for the conventions of society. He is usually portrayed as almost naked and unkempt, with long hair and a beard. “.that the reading of them will give not only pleasure but also lay the foundation for broader literary studies.” he opines. Diogenes was the antisocial, ascetic philosopher who lived in a barrel and rejected all of the norms of civilized behavior. These went on to set the standard for textbooks for nearly a century, at a time when education was undergoing huge systemic reform.įifty Famous Stories Retold contains a preface by the author, in which he describes the motives behind such an anthology. He retired as the Editor in Chief of the American Book Company and compiled the much acclaimed Baldwin Readers and co-authored the Expressive Readers. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, his works were extremely popular and had a considerable influence on the reading habits of generations of youngsters. He worked as a textbook editor and also wrote more than fifty books for children concerning mythology, legends and the stories of famous historical figures. James Baldwin, who shares his name with another famous American author was an editor, author and gifted teacher. Hence, Fifty Famous Stories Retold by James Baldwin would indeed be a great addition to your children's bookshelf. However, for a new generation growing up, some of these may be new and unknown.
They were included in our text books or to be found in anthologies in our school libraries. These are stories that many people who grew up in the last century would be familiar with.
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