
INTRODUCTION
THE SILENT ISLE - I
THE SILENT ISLE - By Arthur Christopher Benson Fellow of Magdalene College, Cambridge - Nec prohibui cor meum. - Fourth Impression - 1913 - To PERCY LUBBOCK
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In this gently lyrical work a reflective narrator steps away from the bustle of modern obligations to seek a quieter, more deliberate way of living. He describes his decision as a sort of holiday for the soul, wandering through a sun‑lit foreign town and savoring the smallest sights and sounds that awaken a childlike sense of wonder. The prose balances careful observation with philosophical musing, asking whether we choose our lives out of habit or genuine preference, and suggesting that true contentment may lie in simplicity rather than restless ambition.
The narrative unfolds as a series of modest sketches—on a seaside cliff, in a modest cottage, among rustling trees—each offering a glimpse into the quiet rhythms of an unhurried existence. Through these vignettes the author invites listeners to consider the weight of convention, the value of idle contemplation, and the quiet courage it takes to live according to one’s own measured pace.
Language
en
Duration
~9 hours (560K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2004-04-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1862–1925
Best remembered today for writing the words that became “Land of Hope and Glory,” he was also a prolific English essayist, poet, and academic whose reflective, conversational prose found a wide readership. His life moved between Eton and Cambridge, and his books often turn ordinary thought and feeling into something quietly memorable.
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by Arthur Christopher Benson

by Arthur Christopher Benson

by Arthur Christopher Benson

by Arthur Christopher Benson

by Arthur Christopher Benson

by Arthur Christopher Benson

by Arthur Christopher Benson

by Arthur Christopher Benson