It's been called ""profane,"" ""offensive,"" and deemed ""intolerable"" to consider its literal meaning part of the scriptural canon. Such is the hard-fought history of the Song of Songs: no other book has been so maligned, simply for existing in the Bible. In truth, the Song is exactly as it appears: an intensely passionate expression of romantic love, ascetic and sexual, between two lovers. The poetry is structured in two anti-symmetric halves: a chiasmus. The Song's lovers are forever imprinted as timeless emblems for this flawless - except godless - love; and the divine Hand enriches the Song symbolically, creating an allegorical overlay with spiritual instruction. The literal story-line and interwoven allegorical messages coexist effortlessly: rooting the Song on Earth does not limit it reaching to Heaven. The spiritual lessons imprinted in the Song are simple, profound and highly relevant to the 21st century disciple; and the manner in which they can be seen to emerge from the symbology, fascinating.

Vols. for 1871-76, 1913-14 include an extra number, The Christmas bookseller, separately paged and not included in the consecutive numbering of the regular series.