Explore "Confessions of a Book-Lover" by E. Walter Walters on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
If thought unlock her mysteries, / If friendship on me smile, / I walk in marble galleries, / I talk with kings the while. / EMERSON.
THE world of books is full of friendly voices. Where is the book-lover who has not at times felt like a sulky guest in genial, well-disposed company? Many authors who await our attentions have no other desire than to entertain, to please, to delight, ‘All authors are not preachers. ' I confess, however, that for my part I like to be ‘preached at. ' But my preacher must be of the gentle, captivating type -- one who employs the beckoning finger. I am willing enough to be led, but immediately adopt a proverbial stubbornness at the touch of a rod. This reminds me of a certain book-lover who declares that he is only influenced by authors who preach from his own pulpit. That is his way of saying that the authors who captivate him are the authors who touch a responsive chord in his nature, who view affairs from his standpoint.