  These Short Books are addressed to the general public with a view both to stirring and satisfying an interest in literature and its great topics in the minds of those who have to run as they read. An immense class is growing up, and must every year increase, whose education will have made them alive to the importance of the masters of our literature, and capable of intelligent curiosity as to their performances. The Series is intended to give the means of nourishing this curiosity, to an extent that shall be copious enough to be profitable for knowledge and life, and yet be brief enough to serve those whose leisure is scanty. The following are arranged for:
[OTHERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED.] OPINIONS OF THE PRESS."The new series opens well with Mr. Leslie Stephen's sketch of Dr. Johnson. It could hardly have been done better; and it will convey to the readers for whom it is intended a juster estimate of Johnson than either of the two essays of Lord Macaulay."—Pall Mall Gazette. "We have come across few writers who have had a clearer insight into Johnson's character, or who have brought to the study of it a better knowledge of the time in which Johnson lived and the men whom he knew."—Saturday Review. "We could not wish for a more suggestive introduction to Scott and his poems and novels."—Examiner. "The tone of the volume is excellent throughout."—AthenÆum Review of "Scott." "As a clear, thoughtful, and attractive record of the life and works of the greatest among the world's historians, it deserves the highest praise."—Examiner Review of "Gibbon." "The lovers of this great poet (Shelley) are to be congratulated at having at their command so fresh, clear, and intelligent a presentment of the subject, written by a man of adequate and wide culture."—AthenÆum. "It may fairly be said that no one now living could have expounded Hume with more sympathy or with equal perspicuity."—AthenÆum. "The story of Defoe's adventurous life may be followed with keen interest in Mr. Minto's attractive book."—Academy. TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES: There are variant spellings of the following name: Jeames Yellowplush The following changes were made to the text: page 5—Thackeray's version was 'Cabbages, bright green cabbages,'{added missing ending quotation mark} and we thought it very witty. page 78—Then there are "Jeames on Time Bargings," "Jeames on the Gauge{original had Guage} Question," "Mr. Jeames again." page 131—"I knew you would come back," she said; "and to-day, Harry{original has Henry}, in the anthem when they sang page 143—The wife won't{original has wo'n't} come. page 143—On his way he{original has be} shoots a raven marvellously page 157—As Thackeray explains clearly what he means by a humorist, I may as well here repeat the passage:{punctuation missing in original} "If humour only meant laughter page 166—I will then let my reader go to the volume and study the lectures for himself.{no punctuation in original} "The poor fellow was never page 212—[Ready.{original is missing period—this occurred in the line referencing DEFOE and the line referencing THACKERAY} This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will be renamed. |
|
