The Harvard Classics, originally known as Dr. Eliot's Five Foot Shelf, is a 51-volume anthology of classic works from world literature, compiled and edited by Harvard University president Charles W. Eliot and first published in 1909. "Before the reading plan represented by The Harvard Classics had taken definite form, I had more than once stated in public that in my opinion a five-foot, at first a three-foot, shelf, would hold books enough to afford a good substitute for a liberal education to anyone who would read them with devotion, even if he could spare but fifteen minutes a day for reading." -- Dr. Charles W. Eliot Our mission is to bring the Harvard Classics into the 21st century and straight to your fingertips with maximum efficiency and effectiveness reading online.