A Treasury of the Familiar is a massive anthology of 700+ pages collecting the most quoted, beloved, and culturally resonant passages in English literature. Edited by Ralph L. Woods, it was designed as a household reference and inspirational volume, often gifted or kept in family libraries.

It features:

•  Classic poetry (Shakespeare, Longfellow, Tennyson)

•  Famous speeches (Lincoln, Churchill, Roosevelt)

•  Proverbs, prayers, and devotional writings

•  Familiar lines indexed so readers could trace a remembered phrase back to its full source

•  Hardcover binding, in dark blue cloth with gilt lettering embossed with decorative cover

This book was meant to be a “family treasury”, a single volume where parents, students, and clergy could quickly find the most memorable lines of Western literature. It bridges scholarly rigor and everyday familiarity, making it both a reference tool and a source of inspiration.