Tom's Learning Notes

The Sacred Books of the East is a collection of Asian religious texts translated into English under the Editorship of Max Müller between 1879 and 1910. 

V. 1. The Upanishads, pt. 1
Internet Archive: The Upanishads part 1. Chandogya Upanishad. Talavakara Upanishad. Aitareya Upanishad. Kausitaki Upanishad. Vajasaneyi Upanishad. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

V. 2. Sacred laws of the Aryas, pt. 1
Internet Archive: The Sacred Laws of the Aryas, pt. 1. Âpastamba's Aphorisms on the Sacred Law. Guatama's Institutes of the Sacred Law. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

V 3. Sacred books of China, pt. 1 
Internet Archive: The Sacred Books of China - The Texts of Confucianism, pt. 1. The Shu King. The Religious Portion of the Shih King. The Hsiao King. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

V. 4. The Zend-Avesta, pt. 1, The Vendidad
Internet Archive: The Zend-Avesta, pt. 1, The Vendidad, translated by James Darmesteter and L.H. Mills. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

V. 5. Pahlavi texts, pt. 1
Internet Archive: Pahlavi Texts - The Bundahis-Bahman Yast, and Shayast La-Shayast. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

V. 6. The Qur'an, pt. 1
Internet Archive: The Qur'an, pt. 1 - Chapters I to XVI. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

V. 7. The Institutes of Vishnu
Internet Archive: v. 7. The Institutes of Vishnu, translated by Julius Jolly. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

V. 8. The Bhagavadgita with the Sanattsugtiya and the Anugita
Internet Archive: The Bhagavadgita with the Sanattsugtiya and the Anugita, translated by Kashinath Trimbak Telang.  EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

V. 9. The Qur'an, pt. 2
Internet Archive: v. 9. The Qur'an, pt. 2 - Chapters XVII to CXIV, translated by E.H. Palmer. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

V. 10. The Dhammapada
Internet Archive: The Dhammapada, translated by F. Max Müller. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

V. 11. Buddhist Suttas
Internet Archive: Buddhist Suttas, translated by T. W. Rhys Davids. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

V. 12. The Satapatha-Brahmana, pt. 1
Internet Archive: The Satapatha-Brahmana, pt. 1 - Books I and II, translated by Julius Eggeling. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

V. 13. Vinaya texts, pt. 1
Internet Archive: Vinaya texts, pt. 1 - The Pattimokkha and The Mahavagga, I-IV, translated by T. W. Rhys Davids and Hermann Oldenberg. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

V. 14. The sacred laws of the Aryas, pt. 2
Internet Archive: The sacred laws of the Aryas, pt. 2 - Vasishtha and Baudhayana, translated by Georg Buhler. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

V. 15. The Upanishads, pt. 2
Internet Archive: The Upanishads, pt. 2 - The Katha Upanishad, The Mundaka Upanishad, The Taittiriyaka Upanishad, The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, The Svetasvatara Upanishad,  The Prasna Upanishad, The Maitrayana-Brahmana Upanishad, translated by F. Max Müller. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

v. 16. The sacred books of China, pt. 2
Internet Archive: The sacred books of China, pt. 2 - The Yi King, translated by James Legge. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

V. 17. Vinaya texts, pt. 2
Internet Archive: Vinaya texts, pt. 2 - The Mahavagga, V-X and the Kullavagga, I-III, translated by T. W. Rhys Davids and Hermann Oldenberg. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

V. 18. Pahlavi texts, pt. 2
Internet Archive: Pahlavi texts, pt. 2 - The Dadistan-I Dinik and the Epistles of Manuskihar, translated by E.W. West. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

V. 19. The Fo-Sho-Hing-Tsan-King
Internet Archive: The Fo-Sho-Hing-Tsan-King - A Life of the Buddha, translated from Sanskrit to Chinese by Dharmaraksha and from Chinese into English by Samuel Beal. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

V. 20. Vinaya texts, pt. 3
Internet Archive: Vinaya texts, pt. 3 - The Kullavagga IV-XII, translated by T. W. Rhys Davids and Hermann Oldenberg. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats. 

V. 21. Saddharma-Pundarika
Internet Archive: The Saddharma-Pundarika or The Lotus of the True Law, translated by H. Kern. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats. 

V. 22. Gaina Sutras, pt. 1
Internet Archive: Gaina Sutras, pt. 1 - The Akaranga Sutra and the Kalpa Sutra, translated by Hermann Jacobi. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats. 

V. 23. The Zend-Avesta, pt. 2
Internet Archive: The Zend-Avesta, pt. 2 - The Sirozahs, Yasts and Nyayis, translated by James Darmesteter and L.H. Mills. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

V. 24. Pahlavi texts, pt. 3
Internet Archive: Pahlavi texts, pt. 3 - The Dinah-I Mainog-I Khirad, The Sikand-gumanik Vigar, The Sad Dar, translated by E.W. West. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

V. 25. The Laws of Manu
Internet Archive: The Laws of Manu, Translated by G. Buhler. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

V. 26. Satapatha-Brahmana, pt. 2
Internet Archive: Satapatha-Brahmana, pt. 2 - Books III and IV, translated by Julius Eggeling. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

V. 27. Sacred Books of China, pt. 3: The Texts of Confucianism
Internet Archive: Sacred Books of China, pt. 3: The Texts of Confucianism - The Li Ki, I-X, translated by James Legge. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

V. 28. Sacred books of China, pt. 4: The Texts of Confucianism
Internet Archive: Sacred Books of China, pt. 4: The Texts of Confucianism - The Li Ki, XI-XLVI, translated by James Legge. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

V. 29. The Grihya-sutras, pt. 1: Rules of Vedic Domestic Ceremonies
Internet Archive: The Grihya-sutras, pt. 1 - The Sankhayana-Grihya-Sutra, The Asvalayana-Grihya-Sutra, The Paraskara-Grihya-Sutra and the Khadira-Grihya-Sutra, translated by Hermann Oldenberg. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats. 

V. 30. The Grihya-sutras, pt. 2: Rules of Vedic Domestic Ceremonies
Internet Archive: The Grihya-sutras, pt. 2 - The Gobhila-Grihya-Sutra, the Hiranyakesi-Grihya-Sutra and the Apastamba-Grihya-Sutra, translated by Hermann Oldenberg, with Apastamba's Yagna-Paribhasha-Sutras, translated by F. Max Müller. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats. 

v. 31. The Zend-Avesta, pt. 3
Internet Archive: The Zend-Avesta, pt. 3. The Yasna, Visparad, Âfrînagân, Gâhs, and miscellaneous fragments, translated by L. H. Mills. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats. 

v. 32. Vedic Hymns, pt. 1
Internet Archive: Vedic Hymns, pt. 1. Hymns to the Maruts, Rudra, Vâyu and Vâta, translated by F. Max Müller. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats. 

v. 33. The Minor Law Books, pt. 1
Internet Archive: The Minor Law Books, pt. 1. Narada, Brihaspiti, translated by Julius Jolly. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats. 

v. 34. The Vedanta-Sutras, pt. 1 
Internet Archive: The Vedanta-Sutras with the Commentary by Sankarakarya, pt. 1. Adhyâya I–II, translated by George Thibaut. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats. 

v. 35. The Questions of King Milinda, pt. 1
Internet Archive: The Questions of King Milinda, pt. 1, translated by T. W. Rhys Davids. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats. 

v. 36. The Questions of King Milinda, pt. 2
Internet Archive: The Questions of King Milinda, pt. 1, translated by T. W. Rhys Davids. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

v. 37. Pahlavi Texts, pt. 4
Internet Archive: Pahlavi Texts, pt. 4. Contents of the Nasks, translated by E.W. West. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

v. 38. The Vedanta-Sutras, pt. 2
Internet Archive: The Vedanta-Sutras, pt. 2. Adhyâya II-IV. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats. 

v. 39. The Sacred Books of China: Texts of Taoism, pt. 1
Internet Archive: The Texts of Taoism, pt. 1. The Tâo Teh King. The writings of Kwang-Sze, bks I-XVII, translated by James Legge. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

v. 40. Sacred Books of China: Texts of Taoism, pt. 2
Internet Archive: The Texts of Taoism, pt. 2. The Writings of Kwang Tse, bks XVII–XXXIII, the Thâi-shang tractate of actions and their retributions, and appendices, translated by James Legge. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

v. 41. The Satapatha-Brahmana, pt. 3
Internet Archive: Satapatha Brahmana, pt. 3. Mâdhyandina Shakha bks V-VII, translated by Julius Eggeling.  EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

v. 42. Hymns of the Atharva-Veda
Internet Archive: Hymns of the Atharva-Veda, together with extracts from the ritual books and the commentaries, translated by Maurice Bloomfield. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

v. 43. The Satapatha-Brahmana, pt. 4
Internet Archive: Satapatha Brahmana, pt. 4. Mâdhyandina Shakha bks VIII-X, translated by Julius Eggeling. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

v. 44. The Satapatha-Brahmana, pt. 5
Internet Archive: Satapatha Brahmana, pt. 5. Mâdhyandina Shakha bks XI-XIV, translated by Julius Eggeling. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

v. 45. Gaina Sutras, pt. 2
Internet Archive: Gaina Sutras, pt. 2; The Uttarâdhyayana sûtra, The Sûtrakritânga sûtra, translated by Hermann Jacobi. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats. 

v. 46. Vedic Hymns, pt. 2
Internet Archive: Vedic Hymns, pt. 2; Hymns to Agni, Mandalas I-IV, translated by Hermann Oldenberg. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats. 

v. 47. Pahlavi Texts, pt. 5
Internet Archive: Marvels of Zoroastrianism, translated by E.W. West. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

v. 48. Vedanta-Sutras, pt. 3
Internet Archive: Vedanta-Sutras, pt. 3, with the Commentary of Râmânuja. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats.

v. 49. Buddhist Mahayana Texts, pt. 1
Internet Archive: Buddhist Mahâyâna Texts, pt.1, The Buddha-karita of Aśvaghoṣa, translated by E.B. Cowell. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats. 

v. 50. Buddhist Mahayana Texts, pt.2
Internet Archive: Buddhist Mahayana Texts, pt.2, translated by E.B. Cowell. The Longer Sukhâvatî-vyûha, Shorter Sukhâvatî-vyûha, Vagrakkhedikâ, the longer Pragñâ-pâramitâ-hridaya-sûtra, the shorter Pragñâ-pâramitâ-hridaya-sûtra, Amitâyur dhyâna-sûtra. EPUB, MOBI, TXT and PDF formats. 

Other resources

Internet Archive: Sacred Books of the East
Sacred-texts.com:Sacred Books of the East
University of Adelaide (Internet Archive): Sacred Books of the East
Wikipedia: Sacred Books of the East
Wikisource: Sacred Books of the East

The Harvard Classics Shelf of Fiction is a collection of novels and short stories published in 1917 as a supplement to the original Harvard Classics.

Details of the individual volumes are below, with links to the relevant pages at this site for works and authors included in the collection. Electronic copies of each volume are available from the Internet Archive links in parentheses.

The Harvard Classics Shelf of Fiction at bookstores
Amazon | bookshop.org | Hive (UK bookshops)

The Harvard Classics is a 51 volume collection of classic texts published in 1909. It is also known as Dr. Eliot's Five Foot Shelf after the original editor and compiler, Harvard President Charles W. Eliot. A supplement, the Harvard Classics Shelf of Fiction, was published in 1917.

Details of the individual volumes are below, with links to the relevant pages at this site for works and authors included in the collection. Electronic copies of each volume are available from the Internet Archive links in parentheses.

The Western Canon: The Books and School of the Ages, by Harold Bloom is a 1994 book defending the concept of a central canon of Western writers against various modern critical approaches that Bloom characterised as a 'school of resentment'.

The book is perhaps best remembered for an appendix listing central canonical writers, an exercise which Bloom later repudiated. Non-Western works are included only in so far as Bloom recognised their influence on the Western tradition. This leads to the inclusion of a handful of major Indian and Middle Eastern works from the ancient and medieval periods, while Chinese literature is totally excluded.

Modern African and Asian literature is slightly better represented, but Bloom's list is best used with the understanding that it intended to be representative of western culture only and therefore excludes much of what is most valuable in world literature.

An adapted version of Bloom's list is presented below with links to relevant free resources. His recommended translations, mostly still in copyright, are omitted.

The Western Canon at Amazon