The Eye of the Beholder

     It’s Monday again and time for Rhoda’s Thrifty Treasures at Southern Hospitality. One of my favorite, recent finds at the flea market proves it really is all in the eye of the beholder.

     I found this, sitting out in the dirt in a pile of other people’s junk, and I just couldn’t resist.    

     Originally published in 1948, it is a Reader’s Encyclopedia that includes all sorts of explanations of literary references and allusions. While reading the preface I learned the editor’s intention in compiling such a book,

“I have tried to maintain balance and proportion between the modern world and the world of antiquity.”

     He was one of us! He loved the old and the new!

     As I place old, wonderful things in my cabinets or share them with my daughters, am I not doing the same thing- balancing the modern world and the world of antiquity?

     If one morning while having coffee,  you were dying to know how ‘friars’ played a role in important literature, just turn to page 371.

     Remember Romeo and Juliet? Friar Laurence got himself into a real jam through aiding and abetting historically famous star-crossed lovers. 

     Books like this really float my boat.  Someone devoted their professional life to researching, writing, editing, and alphabetizing (not an easy task prior to word processing programs) 1118 pages of literary information for our reading knowledge and pleasure.  Bless his (the editor’s) heart.

     And finally- I love books like this because of their weight. When I leaned over and rescued it from the dirt, I almost said ‘ahhh’ as I felt its importance.

     Price?  $1.00.