The Pilgrim's Progress & the Lives of Donne and Herbert

The collection features 51 volumes of essential writings spanning literature, philosophy, history, and mythology, curated by Charles William Eliot, Harvard's longest-serving president. Known as "Dr. Eliot's Five Foot Shelf," it embodies his vision that a foundational liberal education can be achieved through selected readings that occupy just five feet of shelf space. Originally published between 1909 and 1917, this anthology showcases the most significant works that have shaped human thought and culture.