Shakespeare, arguably the world’s greatest writer (ever and ever), is here paired with Longfellow, one of America’s greatest scribes. Their contributions to this pair of handsome and heavy cast iron bookends (made in the 1920’s or 1930’s) are quotes, both pertaining to the joys and benefits of reading. Shakespeare’s quote, from Love’s Labour’s Lost (Act IV, Scene II) is more of an insult, referring to an unread man and continues, “he is only an animal, only sensible in the duller parts.” Longfellow’s contribution is from his 1844 poem “The Day is Done”, part of which reads “Then read from the treasured volume/The Poem of thy choice,/And lend to the rhyme of the poet/The beauty of thy voice.”
A perfect gift for a student returning to studies—or any book lover—they may be purchased by clicking on the photo above.