Threnody is an archaic word which has its roots in the Greek term, which means to sing a dirge, generally at a funeral or at the loss of a cherished person. In this volume, D. Scott Smith (author of Motivational Listener) provides vision and understanding that allows for comparison between the “good old days” and the present times. The nineteenth century seems so distant and unreal, almost as if there is no connection between the people of that era and ourselves. When listening to this book, you will be surprised at how much we have in common.

We gain insight through pre-industrialized eyes when listening to these selected poems by J. G. Holland. He was a 19th-century man with Christian values whose writing is deeply affected by the nearness of mortality in his day.

Perhaps the words in this volume will bring hope today and be available to you on your digital bookshelf for future times when life and the news media cause you to shout (as in “Wanted”), “A time like this demands strong minds, great hearts, true faith, and ready hands”. The verses you will encounter tell of joy, pain, jealously, romance, enduring love, friendship, and a full range of life’s emotions. Look past the accoutrements of the 19th-century life and instead dwell on the human interactions. Smith chose Threnody as the title to this volume as a nod to the past, an acknowledgment of our present condition, and a trust for a bright future.

Threnody reminds us to keep close to those who are important.