December Quote of the Month: 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house / Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse"

"Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house / Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse"
— Clement Clarke Moore, 1837

Just in time for holiday celebrations, all of us at Cosimo are very excited to announce our Quote of the Month!

The Night Before Christmas, originally published as A Visit from St. Nicholas on December 23, 1823, in the Troy Sentinel, became America's favorite Christmas poem. After the poem was published anonymously, it was attributed to Clement Clark Moore in 1837. However, scholars have debated the identity of the author of this poem and some believe it was written by Henry Livingston, Jr., (1748-1828), a New York farmer who also wrote poetry.

The Night Before Christmas has had a great influence on the American notion of Santa Claus and on its tradition of Christmas gift-giving, which, before the poem, had been inspired by the Dutch figure of St. Nicholas. This unique edition of the famed Christmas poem, features the original engravings, from 1849, by T.C. Boyd.

This American classic is a great gift for the Christmas season as well as for collectors of traditional American literature.

December Classic of the Month: The Night Before Christmas: A Visit from St. Nicholas

It wouldn't be December without a Visit from St. Nicholas!

The Night Before Christmas, originally published as A Visit from St. Nicholas on December 23, 1823, in the Troy Sentinel, became America's favorite Christmas poem. After the poem was published anonymously, it was attributed to Clement Clark Moore in 1837. However, scholars have debated the identity of the author of this poem and some believe it was written by Henry Livingston, Jr., (1748-1828), a New York farmer who also wrote poetry.

The Night Before Christmas has had a great influence on the American notion of Santa Claus and on its tradition of Christmas gift-giving, which, before the poem, had been inspired by the Dutch figure of St. Nicholas. This unique edition of the famed Christmas poem, features the original engravings, from 1849, by T.C. Boyd.

This American classic is a great gift for the Christmas season as well as for collectors of traditional American literature.

September Series of the Month: Bibliography of Forbidden Books

In these scary Orwell-like times, Cosimo is celebrating Banned Books Week with Bibliography of Forbidden Books by Henry Spencer Ashbee as our Series of the Month for September!

In this three-volume work that established Henry Spencer Ashbee, British book collector, travel writer and bibliographer, as England's leading authority on pornography, Ashbee describes scores of "curious, uncommon and erotic books" that were banned or otherwise prohibited from legitimate sale during the Victorian era... and some even until the 1960s. This catalog of mostly forgotten works is an invaluable (and highly entertaining) resource for bibliophiles, students of erotica, and collectors of Victoriana.

This series contains "gentlemen only" titles such as: Intrigues and Confessions of a Ballet Girl, The Pleasures of Kissing and Being Kissed, the infamous Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure, the Cloisters Laid Open, Memoirs of Miss Mary-Catherine Cadiere, and Pretty Little Games for Young Ladies and Gentlemen.

About the Author
British book collector, travel writer, and bibliographer Henry Spencer Ashbee (1834-1900), aka Pisanus Fraxi, is thought by some to have authored the notorious Victorian sexual memoir My Secret Life.

About the Organization

Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. The 2019 celebration will be held September 22  -September 28, the theme this year is Censorship Leaves Us in the Dark. To find an event near you, please visit the Banned Books website.


The hardcover retail list price for the series is $101.97, but now: our price: $79.99 (you save $22 or a 27 percent discount)

The paperback retail list price for the series is $74.97, but now: our price: $59.99 (you save $15 or a 26 percent discount)

The Night Before Christmas, Now Available from Cosimo!

"'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house / Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse"
 - From The Night Before Christmas

Just in time for holiday celebrations, all of us at Cosimo are very excited to announce a new Classic we have added to our catalog.

The Night Before Christmas, originally published as A Visit from St. Nicholas on December 23, 1823, in the Troy Sentinel, became America's favorite Christmas poem. After the poem was published anonymously, it was attributed to Clement Clark Moore in 1837. However, scholars have debated the identity of the author of this poem and some believe it was written by Henry Livingston, Jr., (1748-1828), a New York farmer who also wrote poetry.

The Night Before Christmas has had a great influence on the American notion of Santa Claus and on its tradition of Christmas gift-giving, which, before the poem, had been inspired by the Dutch figure of St. Nicholas. This unique edition of the famed Christmas poem, features the original engravings, from 1849, by T.C. Boyd.

This American classic is a great gift for the Christmas season as well as for collectors of traditional American literature.

December eBook of the Month: George Washington’s Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior

In the spirit of giving during this holiday season, we are highlighting George Washington's Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior as our eBook of the month.

The history of George Washington’s Rules of Civility &Decent Behavior is a bit unusual and unclear; scholars seem to agree that Washington’s 110 rules are the result of a penmanship exercise, in which a teenage Washington copied a set of maxims originally compiled by French Jesuits in the 1590s. Somehow the translated text found its way to Virginia, and somehow it was assigned to a young Washington as an educational exercise. The result is a collection of maxims (with either Washington’s or his instructors’ additions) that dictate the behavior of a young man in civil society.

Washington’s Rules of Civility were part of his personal papers, purchased by Congress and now housed in the Library of Congress. Many historians consider this document a sort of “foundational  document” that details the tenets which later governed Washington's behavior as an adult. Indeed, Washington was known for his kindness and deportment, though it is mere speculation that the Rules contained in this penmanship exercise are the root of Washington's civility.

Statesman or no, George Washington's Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior is a fascinating and informative historical text detailing the rules of behavior for a bygone era—many of which are still pertinent today. Rules dictates the behavior of one in company, emphasizing kindness, conscience, and cleanliness. While today’s reader may not need reminding to keep their feet away from “the fire, especially if there be meat before it,” many of the Rules hold true today.

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August Quote of the Month: Ulysses S. Grant's biography is the most remarkable work of its kind

"Ulysses S. Grant's biography is the most remarkable work of its kind."

— Mark Twain

In honor of our Classic of the Month, Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant by Ulysses S. Grant, we are highlighting this famous quote from Mark Twain this August.

18th president of the United States and the Union general who led the North to victory in the Civil War. Though Grant opens with tales of his boyhood, his education at West Point, and his early military career in the Mexican-American war of the 1840s, it is Grant's intimate observations on the conduct of the Civil War, which make up the bulk of the work, that have made this required reading for history students, military strategists, and Civil War buffs alike.

This unabridged edition features all the material that was originally published in two volumes in 1885 and 1886, including maps, illustrations, and the text of Grant's July 1865 report to Washington on the state of the armies under his command.

About the AuthorUlysses S. Grant (1822-1885), 18th president of the United States and the Union general who led the North to victory in the Civil War. Though Grant opens with tales of his boyhood, his education at West Point, and his early military career in the Mexican-American war of the 1840s, it is Grant's intimate observations on the conduct of the Civil War, which make up the bulk of the work, that have made this required reading for history students, military strategists, and Civil War buffs alike.

June Quote of the Month: "Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are."

"Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are." 

     — James Allen in As a Man Thinketh 

We are offering this Quote of the Month for June to all of those who feel like life has no meaning, or for those who need a little uplifting this month.

Weaving his way through the inner dynamics of the human psyche, James Allen shows us what we already intuitively know: how changing ones' mind-set can improve one's circumstances - no matter how difficult. 

Literally a blueprint on living, this little gem serves as a course of action for approaching life in a meaningful manner. His practical philosophy of successful living has awakened millions to the discovery and perception of the truth. 

Written in a succinct, easy-to-digest style, As a Man Thinketh is a valuable tool to anyone serious about achieving a purpose-filled life.

About the AuthorJames Allen (1864-1912) was an Englishman who retired from the business world to pursue a lifestyle of writing and contemplation. His books are classics in the fields of inspiration and spirituality. Although best known for As a Man Thinketh, he authored several other books that deal with the power of thought including The Path to Prosperity, The Mastery of Destiny, The Way of Peace, and Entering the Kingdom.

February Series of the Month: The Five Foot Shelf of Classics

Celebrate the shortest month of the year by reading Cosimo's February Series of the Month: The Five Foot Shelf of Classics, collected by Charles William Eliot.

Originally published between 1909 and 1917 under the name "Harvard Classics," this stupendous 51-volume set (a collection of the greatest writings from literature, philosophy, history, and mythology) was assembled by American academic Charles William Eliot (1834-1926), Harvard University's longest-serving president. Also known as "Dr. Eliot's Five Foot Shelf," it represented Eliot's belief that a basic liberal education could be gleaned by reading from an anthology of works that could fit on five feet of bookshelf.

Eliot compiled these titles to serve as a "home educator" -- for people who couldn't attend Harvard so they too could get a literary education with some of the best and most well-known classics around the world.

Eliot’s collection was even featured in the memoir: What the Great Books Taught Me About Life, Death, and Pretty Much Everything Else, in which author Christopher Beha details how he turned to these great works for comfort and inspiration during a time of personal struggle. Beha’s memoir illustrates what Eliot believed about The Five Foot Shelf: that the great works of literature are still worth consulting, as a source not just of education, but of edification in every sense of the word.

Cosimo offers this series by individual volume at leading online bookstores or as a full set in hardcover or paperback, especially of interest to historians, collectors, who like to expand their personal library, professional librarians, or for parents wanting their high school kids to learn more before going off to college. Actually it is a must for those of you who want to know the fundamentals of literature, philosophy and history without being muddled by a multitude of platitudes in social media, gaming and never-ending TV shows. If you are interested in purchasing the full set, please contact us.

The collection includes titles such as:

• The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
• The Complete Poems of John Milton
• Ben-Hur
• The Origin of Species
• Don Quixote
• The Odyssey
• Beowulf
• Aeneid, and many more

The paperback retail list price for this series is: $1209.49, but now our price is: $969.99 (you save $239.50 or a 20 percent discount)

The hardcover retail list price for this series is: $1784.49, but now our price is: $1429.99 (you save $354.5 or a 20 percent discount)

November Classic of the Month: A Bubble That Broke the World by Garet Garrett

The names of the players are different, but these cautionary essays about massive national debt, written in the long wake of World War I and as the Great Depression was starting to make its horrible power fully known, are still fully applicable today. We are proud to announce A Bubble That Broke the World by Garet Garrett as our November Classic of the Month!

A powerful libertarian voice of the early 20th century, Garet Garrett, writing originally in the Saturday Evening Post, warned about the extension of American credit to a Europe staggering under a massive debt leftover from the financing of World War I... a situation echoed, if reversed, today as the overextended United States continues her rampant borrowing.

Collected in book form, Garrett's writings are a cry for a retreat from financial insanity, a clear-eyed look at a complicated and little understood era of financial history, and perhaps an ominous warning for today.

This book, originally published in 1932, presents a cosmology of a mass delusion which affects the mentality of the world. This takes place following World War I where the Federal Reserve System, for the first time, allowed flexible currency.

About the Author
American journalist Garet Garrett  (1878-1954) born Edward Peter Garrett, was an American journalist and author who was noted for his criticisms of the New Deal and U.S. involvement in the Second World War.

Happy Birthday Louisa May Alcott!

Cosimo is throwing on our party hats and raising a glass to the lovely Louisa May Alcott who was born on November 29 in1 832. Celebrate with us by picking up one of these great reads:

Little Women 

It is one of the most beloved novels in the English language, and its protagonists among the best friends a reader can have. Louisa May Alcott's Little Women-inspired by her own childhood with three sisters in Concord, Massachusetts-is the simple, elegant tale of tomboy Jo March, who strains against the limitations of women of her time, and dependable Meg, compassionate Beth, and spoiled Amy. Their childhood adventures and squabbles as well as their adult romances and travels continue to enthrall and delight readers a century and a half after the novel was first published, and have inspired stage plays, comic books, and countless film adaptations. 

Little Men

This is the second book in the Little Women trilogy. Also titled Life at Plumfield with Jo's Boys, the book follows Jo Bhaer and her husband Professor Bhaer as they run the Plumfield Estate School, taking under their wing young boys and girls in need of instruction and love. As in Little Women, each student has his or her own faults that make it all the more difficult to mature into proper young ladies and gentlemen. And, as in Little Women, the children must confront those difficulties and fears head-on before truly learning their lesson. Little Men focuses on Jo and her family, likely because Alcott modeled Jo after herself and always felt closest to the character. Readers fell in love with the most outgoing March sister as well, and their devotion continued through the exploits of her sons and students in the final two books in this captivating trilogy.

Jo's Boys and How They Turned Out: A Sequel to Little Men

Taking place ten years after Little Men, Jo's Boys and How They Turned Out, is the third and final book in the Little Women trilogy. Originally published in 1886, two years before Ms. Alcott's death, Jo's Boys follows the lives of the young men readers came to love and cherish in its prequel. In it, we learn the fates of Jo's sons Rob and Teddy, along with the other boys at Plumfield Estate School. Written in classic Alcott style, we see how the boys struggle to overcome their many flaws, in the end learning life's lessons the hard way. Just as the March girls did, each boy must learn to deal with death, love, heartbreak, and the consequences of their actions. Readers will feel pain and joy along side each young man as he completes his life journey and fulfills his dreams in this classic conclusion to one of America's most beloved series.

Happy B-Day Ms. Alcott!

For more books by and about Louisa May Alcott, please visit cosimobooks.com.

Grab Your Popcorn, New Agatha Christie Movie Releases 11/10!

Fans of Agatha Christie rejoice!! The long awaited 2017 movie,  Murder on the Orient Express, will be coming to a theater new you next week! The film stars Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Josh Gad, and Michelle Pfeiffer, and releases in the United States on November 10. We at Cosimo are celebrating by stocking up on our mysteries and rereading our favorites below.

Agatha Christie (September 15, 1880 - January 12, 1976) was an iconic crime novelist, short story writer, and playwright. She was also the author of six romance novels. She has written numerous works, two of which Cosimo is proud to offer, and is recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records as the best-selling novelist of all time. 

First published in 1920, The Mysterious Affair at Styles was Agatha Christie's first novel. It introduced the world to Hercule Poirot, Christie's Belgian detective, who would go on to be featured in 39 of her novels. The mystery begins with the death of Emily Inglethorp at Styles, a manor in the English countryside. Captain Hastings, a guest at the house, calls upon his friend Poirot to help investigate. The obvious suspect is Emily's husband, who stood to inherit a large fortune upon her death. But the timeline doesn't quite work out, and Poirot must delve further into the lives and motivations of the family living at Styles to uncover who could have poisoned Emily with strychnine and why.


The grand dame of the cozy English murder mystery, Agatha Christie introduced Tommy and Tuppence, her duo of likeable upper-class detectives, in this 1922 novel, her second book. International intrigue, secret treaties, disguises, and blackmail follow this roguishly charming 1920s couple in their globetrotting quest to unravel the riddle of their disappearing client, disappearing diplomatic papers, and a devious plot that goes back to the sinking of the Lusitania. Beloved by Christie fans for their innocence and pluck, Tommy and Tuppence are a delight to spend quality crime-fighting time with.

September Classic of the Month: Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents of the United States

President Donald Trump's inaugural address at 1,433 words and 15 minutes was the shortest since President Carter in 1977 and second-shortest since President Kennedy in 1961. Still, it was far longer than the shortest-ever address by the first president of the United States, George Washington, in his second inaugural address on March 4, 1793, with just 135 words. On the other hand, will we remember President Trump's address or any of his quotes as we do with President Franklin Roosevelt's quote in 1933: "Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself, nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance," or President John Kennedy's quote in 1961: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country?" Time will tell.

This volume, Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents of the United States, with inaugural addresses from each of the nation's new leaders, and the subsequent inaugural words of re-elected Presidents, collects the thoughts of the first leader, President George Washington, entering office on April 30, 1789, through the forty-fifth leader, President Donald Trump on January 20, 2017. Their words set the tenor for their administrations, and this firsthand document of American history is vital for understanding their work in the White House and the legacy they left for the future.

About JCCICThe Joint Congressional Committee of Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) coordinates the Inaugural swearing-in ceremony of the President and Vice President of the United States, the traditional Inaugural luncheon that follows, and all other Inaugural activities at the U.S. Capitol. It is comprised of the Senate Majority Leader, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Majority and Minority Leaders of the House of Representatives.

This collection of historical documents is a must-read for any historian, an excellent reference tool for librarians and students, and an educational informant for all. Cosimo is proud to offer this title in both paperback and hardcover at leading online bookstores including Barnes & Noble (hardcover, paperback) and Amazon (hardcover, paperback).

August Quote of the Month - I can't go back to yesterday because I was a different person then - Lewis Carroll

This month, we have selected our August inspirational message from a great Classic (book and author!):

"I can't go back to yesterday because I was a different person then."

-- Lewis Carroll in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

In 1865, English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, aka Lewis Carroll, wrote a fantastical adventure story for the young daughters of a friend. The adventures of Alice-named for one of the little girls to whom the book was dedicated—who journeys down a rabbit hole and into a whimsical underworld realm, instantly struck a chord with the British public, and then with readers around the world. Dodgson's playfulness—with language, with mathematical puzzles, with testy creatures such as the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts—still confounds and teases lovers of fantasy fiction today.

Alice acolytes continue to unravel the book's strange riddles, and constantly find new meaning in the unexpected underlying themes, from the trials of early adolescence to the value of nonsense. The conundrums and delights of Alice ensures its ongoing influence over modern pop culture. This unabridged replica edition features the original illustrations by English artist Sir John Tenniel, and is a treasured addition to any library.

August Classic of the Month: A Vindication of the Rights of Women

In the spirit of Women's Equality Day, (selected to commemorate the 1920 certification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote.) Cosimo's Classic of the Month is A Vindication of the Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft as our Classic of the Month.

This 1792 book is one of the earliest works of protofeminist thought and is the first published argument advocating for the societal elevation of women as the intellectual and emotional equals of men. Written during the time of the French Revolution, this revolutionary book reacts against the French Diplomat's, Charles Maurice's, statement that women should be educated only in domestic matters.

Well received in its day and still an important resource for anyone wishing to understand the history of feminism, this extended essay demolishes the sexual double standard of the day, offers a rational defense for the education of girls, and demands merely that women be treated as people.

A Vindication of the Rights of Women is available in hardcover and paperback at leading online bookstores, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

About the Author:
Mary Wollstonecraft was an eighteenth-century British writer, philosopher, and advocate of women's rights. During her brief career, she wrote novels, treatises, a travel narrative, a history of the French Revolution, a conduct book, and a children's book. Wollstonecraft is best known for A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792), in which she argues that women are not naturally inferior to men, but appear to be only because they lack education. She suggests that both men and women should be treated as rational beings and imagines a social order founded on reason.

April Classic of the Month: Wallace D. Wattles Trilogy

We are pleased to offer this authors' most significant works together in one attractive hardcover or paperback book as our April Classic of the Month: Wallace D. Wattles Trilogy: The Science of Being Well, The Science of Getting Rich & The Science of Being Great by Wallace D. Wattles.

These books prescribe an exact method for readers to accomplish three basic goals that will make any person happy, applying principles of metaphysics and New Thought to overcome human error.

Each book focuses on a subject — wealth, health, and power — and applies an exact science that will allow anyone to achieve their goal by following some basic steps in a specific order, in a "Certain Way." Sacrificing explanations of philosophy for brevity, Wattles provides readers a stripped-down guide on shaping the universe to their benefit through the power of positive thinking.

We are pleased to offer the Wallace D. Wattles Trilogy in both a practical paperback and attractive hardcover.

March Classic of the Month: Two Scottish Tales of Medical Compassion

We are highlighting Two Scottish Tales of Medical Compassion, by Dr. John Brown, Ian Maclaren, and Dr. John Raffensperger, as our March Classic of the Month in honor of Saint Patrick's Day tomorrow!

Included in the book are the short stories "Rab and His Friends," by John Brown, and "A Doctor of the Old School," by Ian MacLaren. In "Rab and His Friends," Dr. John Brown recounts a true story from his early days as a doctor about a huge mutt named Rab and his owner, of whom the dog was fiercely protective. He discusses medical procedures that were cutting edge at the time, though they would be seen as invasive and rather cruel today.

In "A Doctor of the Old School," we are painted a picture of a typical doctor on call from the Scottish highlands, complete with an authentic Scottish dialect. This touching story shows how selfless small doctors in the backwoods of Scotland were, never taking a day off and treating patients right up until their own bodies gave out on them.

Finally, Dr. John Raffensperger, a retired surgeon with a deep love for and interest in these medicinal roots, paints a picture of the authors of these tales, John Brown and Ian MacLaren, showing how their ties to the Edinburgh School of Medicine shaped their stories and love of medicine. He takes us back to the first instances of modern medicine, where cleanliness standards were just beginning to be discovered and used and where medical procedures with anesthesia were rare. It is a fascinating glimpse into the old ways and will make any reader — doctor, patient, or friend — truly thankful for the advancements that have been made because of men like Dr. John Brown.

You can enjoy your copy in paperback, or order the eBook version straight to your Nook or Kindle and enjoy immediately.

About the Authors 
John Brown, M.D. (1810-1882) was a well-known Scottish doctor and writer from Edinburgh. He attended the medical school at the University of Edinburgh before becoming apprentice to James Syme at the Minto House Hospital. His experiences at the hospital influenced his writing, including "Rab and his Friends," the short stories in his book Horae Subsecivae, and others.

Ian Maclaren (1850-1907) was the pen name of Highland-born John Watson. Watson studied for the ministry at the University of Edinburgh and at Tubingen in Germany. In addition to serving at the Parish of Logielmond in Perthshire and the Sefton Park Church in Liverpool, he was well known as a writer and speaker, culminating in several speaking tours in the United States. His works include "A Doctor of the Old School," Beside the Bonnie Briar Bush, and The Days of Auld Lang Syne.

John Raffensperger, M.D. was a surgeon-in-chief at the Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago and a professor of surgery at Northwestern University. He has authored surgical textbooks, a history of the Cook County Hospital, a collection of short stories, and a "surgical thriller." He currently lives in Sanibel Island, Florida.

February Classic of the Month: Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup

In honor of Black History Month, Cosimo is proud to present Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup as our February Classic of the Month.

This riveting and harrowing memoir, originally published in 1853, was a best-seller and groundbreaking work during its time. In 1841, free-born African American Solomon Northup was offered a job within his hometown of Saratoga Springs, only to find that it was a trap---leading to him being beaten, drugged, kidnapped, and sold into slavery by his employers. He eventually ended up on a Louisiana plantation owned by Edwin Epps, where he became friends with Canadian carpenter Edward Bass, who was doing work for the plantation owner at the time. Bass secretly contacted Northup's family, who informed New York governor Washington Hunt of his kidnapping. The state was able to use a law passed in 1840, to rescue Northup, that allowed the recovery of free black men who were sold into slavery. Solomon was finally made free again on January 4, 1853.

In 2013 Twelve Years a Slave, a movie based on an adaptation of this autobiography was produced and directed by Steve McQueen: it ended up winning three 2014 Oscars for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actress.

This incredible journey is a must-read for all, but may be of particular interest to historians, librarians, or anyone interested in African American History.

About the Author:
Solomon Northup (1808-c. 1875) was a free African American from New York who was deceived, drugged, and sold into slavery in Washington, D.C. in 1841. He was transported to New Orleans and sold to a plantation owner in Louisiana. For several years, he was passed around between slave owners before winding up with plantation owner Edwin Epps. There he met Canadian carpenter Samuel Bass, who helped him regain his freedom in 1853. Solomon spent the rest of his life as an abolitionist. He also assisted with the Underground Railroad in the early 1860s.

Cosimo is thrilled to offer Twelve Years a Slave in hardcover, paperback, and eBook formats at leading online bookstores including Barnes & Noble (paperback, hardcover, and Nook) and Amazon (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle).

Edgar Rice Burroughs' Classic Tarzan, Now in Theaters!

The Legend of Tarzan, based on the fictional character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs, is now out in movie theaters! Directed by David Yates, the cast includes Alexander Skarsgård, Samuel L. Jackson, Margot Robbie, Djimon Hounsou,Jim Broadbent and Christoph Waltz. 

Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs 

"From a lofty perch Tarzan viewed the village of thatched huts across the intervening plantation. He saw that at one point the forest touched the village, and to this spot he made his way, lured by a fever of curiosity to behold animals of his own kind, and to learn more of their ways and view the strange lairs in which they lived. His savage life among the fierce wild brutes of the jungle left no opening for any thought that these could be aught else than enemies. Similarity of form led him into no erroneous conception of the welcome that would be accorded him should he be discovered by these, the first of his own kind he had ever seen. Tarzan of the Apes was no sentimentalist. He knew nothing of the brotherhood of man. All things outside his own tribe were his deadly enemies... ”

        -  From Chapter X: The Fear-Phantom

Edgar Rice Burroughs created one of the most iconic figures in American pop culture, Tarzan of the Apes, and it is impossible to overstate his influence on entire genres of popular literature in the decades after his enormously winning pulp novels stormed the public's imagination. Tarzan of the Apes, first published in 1912, is the first installment of Burroughs' tales of the ape-man, which would expand to encompass more than two-dozen books. Here, an English boy orphaned in Africa is raised by apes, becoming a fearsome creature of the jungle until he discovers his true identity as John Clayton, Lord Greystoke, and make his first tentative forays back into human civilization, through his love for the only human woman he has ever seen, Jane Porter.

About the Author
American novelist Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875-1950) wrote dozens of adventure, crime, and science fiction novels that are still beloved today, including the series: Tarzan of the Apes, The Return of Tarzan, The Beasts of Tarzan, The Son of Tarzan, Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar, Jungle Tales of Tarzan, Tarzan the Untamed, Tarzan the Terrible, and many, many more!

May Classic of the Month: Old Time Recipes by Helen Wright

In happy celebration of spring (finally!), farmer's markets, flowers blooming, and fresh fruit, we at Cosimo are happy to present Old Time Recipes by Helen Wright as our May Classic of the Month.

Old Time Recipes For Home Made Wines, Cordials and Liqueurs from Fruits, Flowers, Vegetables and Shrubs, originally published in 1909, is a descriptive, charming cookbook for those who want to make their own wines and liqueurs from any and all available ingredients, including fruits, flowers, vegetables, and shrubs. It includes an introduction from the author and the ingredients and instructions for making and fermenting your own spirits, from wine and ale to sherry, brandy, cordials, and even soda. Not only is this book interesting for those who want access to recipes from the old country, it's also good for those looking for a laugh: cock ale, cowslip wine, koumiss (a tartar wine that uses fresh mare's milk), and elephant's milk recipes are all included.

About the Author
Helen Saunders Wright is the author of two books, The New England Cookbook (1912) and Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines (1909).

Cosimo is proud to present this title in paperback. Available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, or your favorite bookstore. Happy cooking!

The "Don'ts" Classic Titles from Cosimo Now Available

Cosimo is happy to announce new Classic titles that are now available online or at your favorite bookstore!

Don'ts for Wives by Unknown
"Art is a hard mistress, and there is no art quite so hard as that of being a wife." So begins this entertaining and enlightening booklet of Don'ts for Wives. Discussing such categories as "How to Avoid Discord," "Financial Matters," "Food," and "Evenings at Home," Don'ts for Wives is full of advice for ways in which a proper and loving wife should behave toward her husband. Each chapter is comprised of a list of "don'ts" that wives should follow if they wish to run a successful home and keep their husbands happy. While much of the advice is outdated, a surprising number of her recommendations are still applicable today. Also available as an eBook.

Don'ts for Husbands by Unknown

"Don't look at things solely from a man's point of view. Put yourself in your wife's place and see how you would like some of the things she has to put up with." In this comical, enlightening, and historical booklet originally published in 1913, Blanche Ebbutt shifts sides of the marital equation, delivering advice (some of which still rings true today), to help shape a proper and successful husband. Offering tips on "General Habits," "Jealousy," "Food," and many more timeless topics, Don'ts for Husbands is the perfect gift for anyone interested in the evolution of society, and who ultimately loves to laugh. Also available as an eBook.

Don'ts for Mothers by Unknown

"Don't suffer a child to be accused of a fault until you are perfectly aware he has been guilty of it" is one of the many recommendations imparted within this historical booklet. Covering timeless topics such as "Pregnancy and Childbirth," "Diet," "Sleep," and "Clothing," Don'ts for Mothers reveals motherhood as viewed in the late 1800s. While the majority of the guidance is outdated and strikingly odd to modern readers, this entertaining booklet still presents some insight into the world of motherhood today.  Also available as an eBook.

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