The Romance of the Commonplace

"The Romance of the Commonplace" by Gelett Burgess is a collection of essays written in the early 20th century. The book explores the philosophy of appreciating the everyday aspects of life, suggesting that a romantic view can transform the mundane into something extraordinary. Burgess presents his ideas with wit and a playful perspective, inviting readers to find joy and beauty in the ordinary moments of existence. The opening of this work introduces the author's reflections and philosophical musings on the nature of life and human perception. Burgess expresses a desire to encourage readers to adopt a stance of enthusiasm toward the ordinary, emphasizing that everyone can cultivate a fresh perspective that brings deeper appreciation to daily encounters. He posits that life can be seen as a game, where playfulness and imagination enhance our experiences. Through a series of essays, he aims to demonstrate that beauty and delight are available in the commonplace, thereby inviting readers into a discourse that elevates the trivial to the realm of significance. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Frank Gelett Burgess was an American artist, art critic, poet, author and humorist. An important figure in the San Francisco Bay Area literary renaissance of the 1890s, particularly through his iconoclastic little magazine, The Lark, and association with The Crowd literary group. He is best known as a writer of nonsense verse, such as "The Purple Cow," and for introducing French modern art to the United States in an essay titled "The Wild Men of Paris." He was the illustrator of the Goops murals, in Coppa's restaurant, in the Montgomery Block and author of the popular Goops books. Burgess coined the term "blurb."