Not unlike some creators of literature themselves, I encountered literature at the age of four. Every subsequent encounter is unfailingly within that high excitement, and beyond to higher states of wellbeing though the uses of literature. I continue, progressively in this pursuit. Literature, created generally by one person, is nothing less than communal and universal. Theclassic series obviously showcases and proves this as a fact. The series highlights existing literature, refocuses it with original introductions based on a lifetime, exclusively amidst world literature. Introductions are the go-between as recommendations to the literature. The element of rediscovery of really great literature is foremost, the repackaging of literature kitted out with new, daring, fresh, vital, exciting informative introductions, reflecting the pristine original excitement of first-time experience.

A connoisseur, an aficionado, is not so much claiming expert status, as giving back riches to whoever wants these riches that are not owned by any one person. The universality of literature is universally accepted. Literature is, as Dante Alighieri proclaims a secondary creation, another Nature parallel to Nature and Creation. This is all provable in the content of the introductions, and, of course first hand in the original works themselves. The introductions being the yardstick by which the literature is ‘weighed and measured’. These introductions hail from literature, and of course in praise of it, so as to invite every new reader into their discovery of great literature. However, there is no great or little in literature; there is simply what your preference is and what brings you in, engages you with a particular book as necessity: it might well be your earliest contact with nursery rhymes or the highest flights of poetry; fiction, history or biography, or as in one of our titles, the work of a song writer/performer.

Literature includes, and always has included the discussion of literature. While literature is generally created by the autonomous individual author, when it becomes wellknown there is a gathering of readers who propel the literature to more readers. Thus a book gains repute and fame far more than its creator. Literature is what becomes famous, rather than the one who writes it. The author is happy that the book goes forward, even if the writer is only known by name and in some cases, anonymous. The book is said to be eternal when it has ‘lived’ beyond the time after its author created it. And, only one aspect of literature is its ability to ‘live’ beyond the era in which it was created.

In every respect, every discussion about a book, is another introduction to a work of literature. However, the Introductions to spa Cottage Classics emerge from my absolute passionate connection to literature, my conviction of its necessity, its vitality, not merely as leisure activity but the extreme vitality as increase, benefice, and gain; mentally, spiritually, and not just in terms of wellbeing.