Comments on: David Reed: Some extracts from his life and letters

By: Daniel

Daniel — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 10:16:07 +0000

To Him Who Best Deserves It
A boat beneath a sunny sky,
Lingering onward dreamily
In an evening of July…

Children three that nestle near,
Eager eye and willing ear,
Pleased a simple tale to hear…

Long has paled that sunny sky:
Echoes fail and memories die.
Autumn frosts have slain July.

Still she haunts me, phantomwise,
Alice moving under skies
Never seen by waking eyes.

Children yet, the tale to hear,
Eager eye and willing ear,
Lovingly shall nestle near.

In a Wonderland they lie,
Dreaming as the days go by,
Dreaming as the summers die:

Ever drifting down the stream…
Lingering in the golden gleam…
Life, what is it but a dream?

I warmly believe His to have been the same kind affectionate disposition towards us, Readers, like Himself. The very truth-recovering, reverent attitude towards Those Who Wrote To Illumine Us.
May He rest in utmost peace, and we keep his memory green.
Accidentally run against a few lines I can’t but hope to grace it with:

A luminous fleet of furry clouds sweeping gently across the backdrop of gallant sky, which towers high over the woods and valleys, valleys veined with lovely streams and rivers, a-glistening in the sun; sky, which, an ocean of air in the high altitudes, derives all glory from the daylight, takes up vapour, brews some waters, sprinkles, a true husband, sparingly over land and other bodies, and dispenses lithesome, fleeting beauty till well into the distant evening. The bridge an archway of fluvial breath; countless bowers, a temple for gay promenaders, a verdant shelter for chirping warblers; and clouds the rugged dishes, looking down upon the stillness and delight beneath; all share in the calm festivities of a June afternoon.
2008-06-15
A bay of mellow blue cloud, losing its tracks beyond the notched fringe of the pine wall, kisses the white streak of a plane’s busy flight, overlooking the shiny bright haze of half-fog, half-mist further on to the north; the day is on the wane; in the opposite upper window, instead of a wonted pale reflection off the glass-pane (of the contiguous nunnery), before the always-drawn jack-towel in lieu of curtains, white, peaceful and gauze-like in this transparence, a beautiful light blue glaze cuts a figure from the skies and adds to the wonderful spectacle; the world of colour, pure and half-dormant, with sound verdure at its feet, and a heavenly nave, sunlit and glittering with soft radiance withal, in its heights, bedews lofty vistas, amid tree boughs and bank rushes, under the path and over a few flights of stairs, with tears of sweet longing, wherein the fond memories light up anew, though but partly, and faintly; wherein beauty is bound, of all dear visions which open so broad and clear; wherein a mute tribute is laid.

By: Stephen M. Miniotis

Stephen M. Miniotis — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 03:43:00 +0000

In the past few decades, we all had a dream. Online knowledge. Project Gutenberg is the accumulation of many dreams, but not many stop to consider the sweat and tears, the struggles that many people such as David Reed have endured for sites like these to exist. David Reed had his critics, yet he never faltered. He leaves a wonderful legacy behind, and I would like to extend my gratitude to his family with my condolences.

If it weren’t for PG I don’t know what i’d do; I’d be lost. None of my website or blogs could be possible without the hard work and dedication of people like David Reed.

By: Debo

Debo — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:40:11 +0000

I’m from Nigeria and I’ve come to rely on project gutenberg for literary sources which in my third world country cannot be found in either local bookshops or public libraries.
I suppose I never really stopped to consider the enormous amount of hard work and dedication that people like David went through in order for people like me to enjoy the privilege of knowledge, and I offer much belated thanks to him. His work was an inspiration to people across the globe.

By: Jin

Jin — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:28:53 +0000

Thank you to David’s family for allowing him to share his time with us. Every hour he spent publishing was a gift from him and his family.

By: Upul Fernando

Upul Fernando — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:50:26 +0000

As a person who had the benefit of reading some rare books which are not available (in print) I am thankful to Mr Reed and PG for their good work. Hope Mr Reed will be happy and content where he is. He has done more than enough for a single soul. I am glad that world is blessed with people like him. May he rest in peace.

By: Tintazul

Tintazul — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:12:34 +0000

It’s a privilege to be a volunteer at http://www.pgdp.net and http://www.pgdpcanada.net. Not only do we free works gret and small from the limitations of paper, we also get to work besides such hard-working, bright, idealistic, unassuming people as David Reed.

By: Cristian ceron

Cristian ceron — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:24:23 +0000

I only can say that I apprecciate what Mr. David did, because many times I had found that in the lybraries there are not the books that I was looking up to, and to found them in the GP for free, It’s like to liberate the people for chains and to be in a real freedoom.
Thanks Mr. David, to help all the mankind and the Non-english readers.

By: Dr. Ricky sanowara

Dr. Ricky sanowara — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:10:55 +0000

In my country its not so hard to find quality books. Books of indonesian authors or abroad.. But these books are sold at high price (for indonesian pocket) by local “book cartel” such as gramedia pustaka and so on.
I begun reading english books when im 10.. I remember it was c.dickens’ oliver twist.. These books (untranslated) can only be found 2nd hand condition (junk store..) these “treasure hunting” been my hobby ever since (ive found germany war album dated 1938).
Some books i cant find, i look for it over internet..
People like those who works on PG are my heroes..
Mr. Reed is a great warlord of the hero legion i admire..
Goodbye mr.reed.. See you in valhalla

By: J.V.O'T.

J.V.O'T. — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:05:38 +0000

I am truly saddened by David’s passing. I will think of him fondly in with every e-book, and offer silent prayer. My heart goes to his family, and friends, and indeed to the whole PG community for losing so valiant a warrior for knowledge.

By: Bard Judith

Bard Judith — Sun, 31 May 2009 14:36:31 +0000

Living overseas in a non-English speaking country where few libraries or public bookstores carry English books, I have found it difficult to sate
my reading addiction (generally a book a day before) without recourse to great expense (Amazon’s shipping overseas often costs twice to five times as much as the original cost of the book – for used books, sometimes ten or fifteen!).

I discovered Gutenberg two or three years ago and fell upon it voraciously, determined to start in the A’s and read through – not methodically, but browsing, sipping, tasting, devouring as titles took my fancy – what bliss to have an enormous library of some of the greatest literature in the world freely available!

I cannot say how much Gutenberg has enriched my mind, not to mention entertained my spare hours. Now, reminded that I have dedicated people and fellow bibliophiles such as David Reed to thank for this, I take the time to type out my appreciation.

Thank you, David, and all the other lovers of words here at Gutenberg.org!