AN ALMANAC - NOTE - January

Q: What kind of book is AN ALMANAC by Norman Douglas?

It is an anthology as well as an almanac, containing a varied collection of epigrams selected from extracts of Douglas’s books.

Q: What does the NOTE say about the purpose of this edition?

The NOTE frames the almanac as a small return for great kindness made from extracts, mentions a limited 1941 printing, and explains that this edition includes a few alterations.

Q: What themes do the January epigrams address?

The January entries offer reflections on enjoying life, the value of leisure, the nature of music and words, skepticism toward certain thinking, and critiques of marriage and prosperity centered only on commerce.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Rowan

A curated anthology-almanac by Norman Douglas selected from extracts of his works, presenting a varied collection of epigrams from a wise and sometimes satirical philosopher and writer. The foreword explains the small personal return behind the project, notes that opinions are not necessarily his own views to be taken too seriously, and introduces the “Viva and Willie King” January section with aphorisms on life, art, history, leisure, and relationships.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages96

Reading Time2 h 28 min

AccessFree to download

NOTE

JANUARY

January epigrams

An Almanacby Norman Douglas # Chatto &Windus Martin Secker &Warburg Ltd This book is an anthology as well asan almanac.Selected by the authorfrom South Wind,Siren Land,OldCalabria,Alone and others of hisworks,it contains a varied collectionof epigrams by this wise if sometimessatirical philosopher and writer ofsupreme distinction. Decorations by Enid Marx t< idhuxm,115 Digitized by the Internet Archivein 2022 with funding fromKahle/Austin Foundation # AN ALMANAC byNORMAN DOUGLAS Decorated byENID MARXCHATTO WINDUSin association wichMARTIN SECKER WARBURG PUBLISHED BYChatto Windus,Londonin association withMartin Secker Warburg Ltd.,London * Oxford University Press,Toronto FIRST PUBLISHED 1945 SECOND IMPRESSION 1946 PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN ALL RIGHTS RESERVED NOTE As a“small return for great kindness”I manu-factured this ALMANAC out of extracts from suchof my books as were on the spot(most of themwere).The Livraria Portugália of Lisbon in 1941printed twenty-five copies,all but one being givento friends.These seemed to like the venture.Ifthat be so,then others may not dislike it either.Hence this edition,which contains a few alterations. The opinions expressed are not necessarily myown,nor need they be taken too seriously.Justa little diversion.... N.D. ForVIVA AND WILLIE KING JANUARY The business of life is to enjoy oneself;every-thing else is a mockery. The whole earth reeks of humanity and itsworks.One has to be old and tough to appraisethem at their true worth. ·3· Where words cease,music begins.Where musicceases,kissing begins ·4· No authentic child of man will fit into a.novel.History is the place for such people;history,oroblivion. 1 JANUARY ·5· The antagonism of flesh and spirit,the mostpernicious piece of crooked thinking which hasever oozed out of our deluded brain. ·6· A sound schooling should have a dual aim—toequip a man for hours of work and for hours ofleisure.They interact;if the leisure is misspent,the work will suffer. Is there no prosperity other than commercial?It is surely time to have done with this utilitariannonsense. ·8· I should be interested to discover what propor-tion of unsatisfactory marriages is due to the barefact that the male partner does not know hisbusiness. ·9· Abuse,hearty abuse,is a tonic to all save men ofindifferent health.

FAQs

What kind of book is AN ALMANAC by Norman Douglas?

It is an anthology as well as an almanac, containing a varied collection of epigrams selected from extracts of Douglas’s books.

What does the NOTE say about the purpose of this edition?

The NOTE frames the almanac as a small return for great kindness made from extracts, mentions a limited 1941 printing, and explains that this edition includes a few alterations.

What themes do the January epigrams address?

The January entries offer reflections on enjoying life, the value of leisure, the nature of music and words, skepticism toward certain thinking, and critiques of marriage and prosperity centered only on commerce.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Rowan