This book was recommended by Jerry Pournelle. Dr. Pournelle's copy, available from a download link at Chaos Manor, includes his commentary [in square brackets] introducing two of the readings in the book. Most of the remaining selections in the book are introduced by Mr. Armstrong. My PDF copy of the book was downloaded from Google Books sans Pournelle.

This book was used in California schools from 1915 through 1925. In those days, school boys and girls were encouraged to drink deep "at the inexhaustible fountain of English literature."

Selections in the book promote both the intensive and extensive methods of the educational delivery of literature. On the extensive side, this reader contains a variety of shorter, easier works with the subordination of intellectual and informational materials to the emotional. On the intensive side, there are six longer, harder classics printed or promoted in the book: Kingsley's The Argonauts, Longfellow's The Courtship of Miles Standish, Irving's Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Longfellow's Evangeline, Whittier's Snow-Bound, and Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.

Mr. Armstrong suggests the intensive reading of one of the classics during the first half of a school term followed by extensive readings during the second half of the term. Then repeat this procedure in the second term.

Mr. Armstrong believes that a certain alertness toward the printed page is developed by the careful study and analysis of a classic. The tonic effect of such effort will reveal itself later in increased alertness to the lesser works during the second half of the term. This mental pulsation, according to Mr. Armstrong, makes for increased power and appreciation of great literature. ( )