Ancient, Curious, and Famous Wills

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

56942

Title

Ancient, Curious, and Famous Wills

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This collection explores the fascinating world of wills as mirrors to human character, spanning ancient history to famous American figures. Through curious bequests and solemn dispositions, the book reveals eccentricities, benevolence, and the customs of eras past.

Summary up to 500 words

In *Ancient, Curious, and Famous Wills*, Virgil M. Harris presents a comprehensive anthology that transforms testamentary documents from dry legal instruments into profound historical windows into human nature. Harris argues that while many die without a will, those who do often reveal remarkable eccentricities or deep generosity, offering an unvarnished insight into the testator's heart and the social habits of their era. The work traverses vast historical ground, citing ancient examples where biblical figures like Adam, Noah, and Job are said to have made wills, alongside Roman practices involving sealing and Anglo-Saxon triplicates. Harris details the evolution of testamentary law from Biblical times through Solon's reforms in Greece to various European traditions. A significant portion of the book is dedicated to 'Curious Wills,' categorized by subject matter including relations between spouses and children, animals, charity, burial preferences, and miscellaneous oddities. Readers encounter specific examples such as a will requiring poor women to hold torches at a funeral, bequests for pet dogs, and provisions for the education of enslaved people prior to their freedom. The volume features full texts or abstracts from notable figures like Henry Clay, who arranged for the gradual emancipation of his slaves; Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain), who carefully managed his literary estate; Grover Cleveland, who requested a simple burial and modest legacies; Roscoe Conkling, who left all assets to his wife; and William W. Corcoran, whose will funded festivals for the poor. The book also includes entries for 'Famous Americans' such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, James Madison, R.E. Lee, Daniel Webster, John G. Whittier, and international figures like William Shakespeare, Voltaire, and Leo Tolstoy. Throughout, Harris provides context on the legal validity of these documents or notes their preservation in registries. The tone is both scholarly and entertaining, aiming to dispel the notion that will-making is a prosaic subject. Instead, Harris argues that these documents show how humanity broadens with the years through benefactions while also exposing mean traits in heirs. The book concludes with an index of names and subjects, making it a valuable resource for understanding the intersection of law, history, and human eccentricity.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/56942.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg56942.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-08-17 22:52 UTC

Categories

• Wills