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Arthur Christopher Benson
Throughout his life, poet and essayist Arthur Christopher Benson also worked as an educator and school administrator. This collection of essays presents Benson's views on topics ranging from art to the aging process, filtered through the lens of someone who is actively engaged in the difficult but rewarding work of educating a nation's youth.
3) Essays
British writer and educator Arthur Christopher Benson possessed a wide-ranging intellect and published prodigiously throughout his entire life. This eclectic selection of his most popular essays runs the gamut from literature to philosophy, with some discussion of pedagogy and educational theory along the way.
Arthur Christopher Benson, FRSL (1862-1925) was an English essayist, poet, and academic, and the 28th Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge. He wrote the lyrics of Edward Elgar’s Coronation Ode, including the words of the patriotic song "Land of Hope and Glory" (1902). His literary criticism, poems, and volumes of essays were highly regarded. He was also noted as an author of ghost stories.
From 1885 to 1903 Benson taught at Eton,
...This epistolary novel from writer A. C. Benson explores the friendship between a schoolmaster, T. B. (whom many critics regard as a stand-in for Benson), and his old friend Herbert. Over the course of dozens of letters, the details of both correspondents' lives and pasts are revealed, as are their opinions and beliefs on a wide range of topics.
Ironically, the tales of fantasy and the supernatural collected in the volume The Isles of Sunset, which would become some of Arthur Christopher Benson's best-known work, were probably never intended for publication. Found by his brothers after Arthur's death, it is believed that he penned these tales as moral parables for his students at Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he served as master.
British writer A. C. Benson is best remembered as a contributor to the genre of horror, having produced a series of groundbreaking ghost stories. But hailing from an exceptionally intellectual and well-read family, Benson's knowledge and insight far exceeded the realm of supernatural fiction. The Silent Isle is a volume of keenly observed personal essays that depict a young man stalled at a crossroads in life.
8) At Large
Renowned essayist and fiction writer Arthur Christopher Benson had a unique way of looking at the world that never seemed to atrophy or stagnate. In the many collections he published over the course of his career, Benson's views on life evolved, but the keenness of his insight never dulled. These essays explore topics ranging from travel to controversial social issues of the day.
Though he struggled with crippling mental illness for much of his adult life, English poet and essayist Arthur Christopher Benson still managed to produce a vast body of work spanning a number of genres. This collection of critical articles, observations and vignettes touches on a variety of topics, many of which address the question of the role of art and literature in our lives.
10) Joyous Gard
If you're interested in the prospect of a more serene, enjoyable life but can't abide the relentlessly chipper pablum passed off as self-help these days, A. C. Benson's essay collection Joyous Gard may be just what you need. Adopting a decidedly measured, thoughtful tone, the essays in this volume offer both philosophical ponderings and practical tips about how to achieve a more fulfilling existence.
11) The Altar Fire
The British author Arthur Christopher Benson was never content to fall back on the typical narrative structure when it came to his novels, and The Altar Fire is definitely no exception. In a series of letters, it tells the tale of a successful novelist who falls on hard times in the aftermath of finishing a large fiction project. But in addition to cataloguing tragedies, this is also a story of redemption—though the path the protagonist
...Born into a family of prominent thinkers, intellectuals and professors, A. C. Benson and several of his brothers would later apply their imaginative gifts in an unusual way: advancing the horror genre. This comprehensive collection brings together most of the spine-chilling ghost stories that Benson produced throughout his career.
13) Father Payne
In this engaging volume of theological and philosophical essays and anecdotes, British writer A. C. Benson relates the views of his longtime mentor, an Anglican lay clergyman that he refers to as Father Payne. Although it's not exactly clear where Payne's opinions leave off and Benson's begin, there is definitely a great deal of thought-provoking insight to be gleaned from this collection.
Is fear an evolutionary tool that helps us steer clear of danger and death, or is it a stumbling block that keeps us from realizing our full potential? According to essayist A. C. Benson, it is both of these things simultaneously, and many more as well. In a probing series of autobiographical sketches and essays, Benson contemplates the nature of fear and its psychological and spiritual purposes and effects.
Arthur Christopher Benson, FRSL (1862-1925) was an English essayist, poet, and academic, and the 28th Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge. He wrote the lyrics of Edward Elgar’s Coronation Ode, including the words of the patriotic song "Land of Hope and Glory" (1902). His literary criticism, poems, and volumes of essays were highly regarded. He was also noted as an author of ghost stories.
From 1885 to 1903 Benson taught at Eton,
...The novel Beside Still Waters from British writer Arthur Christopher Benson offers an in-depth look at the life of one Hugh Neville, beginning with his earliest childhood recollections and concluding in his old age. Through spiritual crises and personal tragedies, Hugh's indefatigable spirit and unique outlook on life remain unscathed. It's an inspirational and engaging look at a life well lived.
