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Practice your writing by typing out classic literature. This method not only enhances your understanding of rhythm, structure, and nuances but also connects you deeply with the timeless flow of literary history.This is a BETA version.

Type the words from the book. We gave you 4 words to start with.

The Bells and Other Poems

by Edgar Allan Poe

The Bells and Other Poems is a collection by Edgar Allan Poe, which includes the titular poem "The Bells." This collection showcases Poe’s mastery over the macabre, the mysterious, and the melodious aspects of poetry. The poems oscillate between the eerie tranquility of the beautiful and the unsettling whispers of the supernatural.

Read more about Edgar Allan Poe
The Bells and Other Poems
I.

       Hear the sledges with the bells--
              Silver bells!
What a world of merriment their melody foretells!
       How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle,
           In the icy air of night!
       While the stars, that oversprinkle
       All the heavens, seem to twinkle
           With  a crystalline delight;
       Keeping time, time, time,
       In a sort if Runic rhyme,
To the tintinabulation that so musically wells
    From the bells, bells, bells, bells,
           Bells, bells, bells,--
From the jingling and the tinkling of the bells.


                     II.

       Hear the mellow wedding bells,
              Golden bells!
What a world of happiness their harmony foretells!
       Through the balmy air of night
       How they ring out their delight!
         From the molten golden-notes,
             And all in tune,
           What a liquid ditty floats
To the turtle-dove that listens, while she gloats
                On the moon!
       Oh, from out the sounding cells,
What a gush of euphony voluminously wells!
                How it swells!
                How it dwells
         On the Future! how it tells
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Why Type a Masterpiece?

Typing out classical literature is not just an exercise in patience; it's a deeply immersive way to understand the rhythm, structure, and nuances of great writing. By manually reproducing the works of renowned authors, you engage with the text on a level that reading alone cannot offer. This method allows you to feel the flow of sentences, the choice of words, and the intricate construction of paragraphs that make these works timeless.

Style is a very simple matter; it is all rhythm. Once you get that, you can't use the wrong words.

– Virginia Woolf

literati is a unique platform where writers can select from a vast collection of public domain classics to type out. This practice is akin to a musician playing pieces by the masters to internalize the elements of composition and performance. Just as the musician learns the subtleties of each note and chord, the writer learns the power of each word and sentence.

Prose is like hair; it shines with combing.

– Gustave Flaubert

Engaging directly with masterpieces allows writers to absorb the rhythm of the text, the ebb and flow of its pacing, and the beauty of its imagery. It cultivates an appreciation for the craft of writing and provides invaluable lessons in how to construct compelling narratives, develop characters, and evoke emotions in readers. Happy typing!

The only truth is music.

– Jack Kerouac

More on this topic:

"Imitate then innovate", an article by David Perell