F. D. Maurice (1805–72), the widely published theologian and Christian socialist, served as both Professor of English Literature at King's College, London, and Professor of Moral Philosophy at Cambridge. He was a founding member of the Cambridge Apostles and later founded the Working Men's College in London. Most of Maurice's publications derive from his sermons and lectures. This book serves as an instructional guide to students of literature. The title is taken from the first lecture, in which Maurice argues that books 'help us in knowing ourselves – the part of history of our land, the people we are continually meeting. And any book that does that is surely a friend.' Subsequent chapters include 'On words', 'Ancient history' and 'On Christian civilization' as well as those with a more literary focus, on Spenser, Milton and Burke. The work was published posthumously in 1873; this third edition appeared in 1880.