The Solitudes of Nature and of Man; or, The Loneliness of Human Life

In this book, William Rounseville Alger carries out a full review of his observations on solitude; in detail he analyses what he has seen of it in relation to man. He starts by examining what solitude there is in various natures: deserts, jungles, the ocean, etc. He then examines what makes a man turn to solitude, what effects solitude has on a man and the good and bad sides of it. The latter part of the book consists of 'Sketches of Lonely Characters', in which he provides short biographical depictions of some of the great men of history, and talks about their dealings with solitude "A man may keep by himself because he is a fool or a knave, and become the greater fool or knave by doing so. The benefits of retirement are not the results of a charm, but the fruits of a law faithfully observed."