Let's be clear from the start: this isn't your typical book. You won't find a hero's journey or a twisting mystery plot. ‘Gleanings from the Harvest-Fields of Literature’ is a scrapbook, an anthology, a personal museum of words compiled by an enigmatic figure known only as C.C. Bombaugh. Published in the late 1800s, it’s a massive collection of ‘excerpta’—little pieces pulled from everywhere. One page might hold a moving poem, the next a joke from a 1700s magazine, followed by a curious scientific fact, a snippet of history, or a play on words.

The Story

There is no single story. Instead, think of Bombaugh as your guide on a wildly unpredictable tour through the attic of 19th-century publishing. He calls it ‘gleaning,’ like gathering leftover grains after a harvest. He wandered through fields of books, newspapers, and journals, picking up whatever shiny or interesting bit caught his eye. The book is organized into loose categories, but the joy is in the randomness. You might read a profound thought from a philosopher, then immediately stumble upon a hilarious anecdote about a misprinted newspaper ad. The ‘plot’ is the journey of one curious mind, sharing his finds with no other goal than to delight and inform other curious minds.

Why You Should Read It

I love this book because it’s a direct line to a different way of thinking. In our age of search engines, Bombaugh’s collection feels wonderfully human and oddly personal. His choices are quirky and subjective. You get a sense of his humor, his interests, and what he found valuable or amusing. It’s a book you don’t read cover-to-cover. You dip in for five minutes and come away with three new conversation starters. It reminds us that knowledge doesn't always have to be useful or linear—sometimes it's just about the joy of connection, of finding a clever turn of phrase or a forgotten story that makes you smile. The charm is in its lack of a grand design; it’s pure, unadulterated intellectual curiosity in book form.

Final Verdict

This is a book for the naturally curious, the browser, and the fan of historical oddities. If you enjoy almanacs, ‘Ripley's Believe It or Not!’, or just opening a random volume of an old encyclopedia, you’ll find a friend in Bombaugh. It’s perfect for bedside reading or for anyone who wants a paper-based break from the hyper-organized digital world. You won't get a gripping narrative, but you will get a fascinating glimpse into the eclectic mind of a Victorian collector and a treasure trove of fragments that are, as Bombaugh puts it, ‘worthy of preservation.’ Approach it like a leisurely stroll through a very strange, very wonderful library.