This collection, spanning four centuries of English wit, wisdom, and common sense, contains the thoughts of a number of renowned masters of the essay. From Francis Bacon—the English author who reputedly imported the genre from France, to literary critic, mystery writer, and social commentator G. K. Chesterton, more than twenty writers express their views on such subjects as walking, writing, traveling, sleeping, pets, friends, and childhood. Included among the literary offerings are "Sir Roger de Coverley at Spring-Garden" by Joseph Addison, "A Meditation Upon a Broomstick" by Jonathan Swift, Samuel Johnson's "Dick Minim the Critic," as well as compositions by Oliver Goldsmith, Charles Lamb, D. H. Lawrence, Virginia Woolf, George Bernard Shaw, and other noted authors. The works are presented chronologically and original publication dates are given where available.