In 'Selections from the Prose Works of Matthew Arnold', readers are treated to a collection of insightful essays and criticism that showcase Arnold's unique literary style characterized by clarity, elegance, and intellectual depth. Arnold, a prominent Victorian poet and critic, reflects on topics such as poetry, literature, culture, and education, providing readers with thought-provoking perspectives that are still relevant today. His prose is marked by a blend of classical allusions, philosophical insights, and social critique, making this book a valuable resource for scholars and students of Victorian literature. Through his engaging prose, Arnold reinforces the importance of culture and intellectual pursuits in a rapidly changing world. His works serve as a bridge between the Romantic and Victorian literary traditions, offering a nuanced view of the era's cultural and social dynamics. 'Selections from the Prose Works of Matthew Arnold' is a must-read for those interested in the intersection of literature, society, and intellectual thought in the Victorian age.

The Broadview Anthology of Sixteenth-Century Poetry and Prose makes available not only extensive selections from the works of canonical writers, but also substantial extracts from writers who have either been neglected in earlier anthologies or only relatively recently come to the attention of twentieth- and twenty-first-century scholars and teachers. Popular fiction and prose nonfiction are especially well represented, including selections from popular romances, merchant fiction, sensation pamphlets, sermons, and ballads. The texts are extensively annotated, with notes both explaining unfamiliar words and providing cultural and historical contexts.