Essays vs Prose: Which Should You Read?

Both live on shelves: History and criticism, Poetry, Literature

Cover of Essays

Essays Matthew Arnold · 1865 ★★★★☆ 3.9 380 pages · ≈ 7 h 02 m · Demanding Find on Amazon

vs

Cover of Prose

Prose Johann Wolfgang von Goethe · 1854 ★★★★☆ 3.8 207 pages · ≈ 3 h 50 m · Demanding Find on Amazon

The verdict

Ratings are close: 3.9 vs 3.8 — either is a safe pick by score.
Prose is the quicker read — about 3 hours vs 7 for Essays.

Side by side