FAMOUS SCOTS SERIES

The following Volumes are in preparation:—

SIR WALTER SCOTT. By Professor Saintsbury.
GEORGE BUCHANAN. By Robert Wallace, M.P.
JEFFREY AND THE EDINBURGH REVIEWERS. By Sir Hugh Gilzean Reid.
ADAM SMITH. By Hector C. Macpherson.
KIRKALDY OF GRANGE. By Louis Barbe.
MUNGO PARK. By T. Banks Maclachlan.
ROBERT FERGUSSON. By A. B. Grosart.
JAMES THOMSON. By William Bayne.
DAVID HUME. By Professor Calderwood.
THOMAS REID. By Professor Campbell Fraser.

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS ON THE
“FAMOUS SCOTS” SERIES.

Of THOMAS CARLYLE, by H. C. Macpherson, the

British Weekly says:—

“We congratulate the publishers on the in every way attractive appearance of the first volume of their new series. The typography is everything that could be wished, and the binding is most tasteful.... We heartily congratulate author and publishers on the happy commencement of this admirable enterprise.”

The Literary World says:—

“One of the very best little books on Carlyle yet written, far outweighing in value some more pretentious works with which we are familiar.”

The Scotsman says:—

“As an estimate of the Carlylean philosophy, and of Carlyle’s place in literature and his influence in the domains of morals, politics, and social ethics, the volume reveals not only care and fairness, but insight and a large capacity for original thought and judgment.”

The Glasgow Daily Record says:—

“Is distinctly creditable to the publishers, and worthy of a national series such as they have projected.”

The Educational News says:—

“The book is written in an able, masterly, and painstaking manner.”

Of ALLAN RAMSAY, by Oliphant Smeaton, the

Scotsman says:—

“It is not a patchwork picture, but one in which the writer, taking genuine interest in his subject, and bestowing conscientious pains on his task, has his materials well in hand, and has used them to produce a portrait that is both lifelike and well balanced.”

The People’s Friend says:—

“Presents a very interesting sketch of the life of the poet, as well as a well-balanced estimate and review of his works.”

The Edinburgh Dispatch says:—

“The author has shown scholarship and much enthusiasm in his task.”

The Daily Record says:—

“The kindly, vain, and pompous little wig-maker lives for us in Mr. Smeaton’s pages.”

The Glasgow Herald says:—

“A careful and intelligent study.”

Of HUGH MILLER, by W. Keith Leask, the

Expository Times says:—

“It is a right good book and a right true biography.... There is a very fine sense of Hugh Miller’s greatness as a man and a Scotsman; there is also a fine choice of language in making it ours.”

The Bookseller says:—

“Mr. Leask gives the reader a clear impression of the simplicity, and yet the greatness, of his hero, and the broad result of his life’s work is very plainly and carefully set forth. A short appreciation of his scientific labours, from the competent pen of Sir Archibald Geikie, and a useful bibliography of his works, complete a volume which is well worth reading for its own sake, and which forms a worthy instalment in an admirable series.”

The Daily News says:—

“Leaves on us a very vivid impression.”

Of JOHN KNOX, by A. Taylor Innes,

Mr. Hay Fleming, in the Bookman, says:—

“A masterly delineation of those stirring times in Scotland, and of that famous Scot who helped so much to shape them.”

The Freeman says:—

“It is a concise, well written, and admirable narrative of the great Reformer’s life, and in its estimate of his character and work it is calm, dispassionate, and well balanced.... It is a welcome addition to our Knox literature.”

The Speaker says:—

“There is vision in this book, as well as knowledge.”

The Sunday School Chronicle says:—

“Everybody who is acquainted with Mr. Taylor Innes’s exquisite lecture on Samuel Rutherford will feel instinctively that he is just the man to do justice to the great Reformer, who is more to Scotland ‘than any million of unblameable Scotsmen who need no forgiveness.’ His literary skill, his thorough acquaintance with Scottish ecclesiastical life, his religious insight, his chastened enthusiasm, have enabled the author to produce an excellent piece of work.... It is a noble and inspiring theme, and Mr. Taylor Innes has handled it to perfection.”

Of ROBERT BURNS, by Gabriel Setoun, the

New Age says:—

“It is the best thing on Burns we have yet had, almost as good as Carlyle’s Essay and the pamphlet published by Dr. Nichol of Glasgow.”

The Methodist Times says:—

“We are inclined to regard it as the very best that has yet been produced. There is a proper perspective, and Mr. Setoun does neither praise nor blame too copiously.... A difficult bit of work has been well done, and with fine literary and ethical discrimination.”

Youth says:—

“It is written with knowledge, judgment, and skill.... The author’s estimate of the moral character of Burns is temperate and discriminating; he sees and states his evil qualities, and beside these he places his good ones in their fulness, depth, and splendour. The exposition of the special features marking the genius of the poet is able and penetrating.”

Of THE BALLADISTS, by John Geddie, the

Birmingham Daily Gazette says:—

“As a popular sketch of an intensely popular theme, Mr. Geddie’s contribution to the ‘Famous Scots Series’ is most excellent.”

The Publishers’ Circular says:—

“It may be predicted that lovers of romantic literature will re-peruse the old ballads with a quickened zest after reading Mr. Geddie’s book. We have not had a more welcome little volume for many a day.”

The New Age says:—

“One of the most delightful and eloquent appreciations of the ballad literature of Scotland that has ever seen the light.”

The Spectator says:—

“The author has certainly made a contribution of remarkable value to the literary history of Scotland. We do not know of a book in which the subject has been treated with deeper sympathy or out of a fuller knowledge.”

Of RICHARD CAMERON, by Professor Herkless,

The Freeman says:—

“Professor Herkless has made us all his debtors by his thorough-going and unwearied research, by his collecting materials from out-of-the-way quarters, and making much that was previously vague and shadowy clear and distinct.”

The Christian News says:—

“This volume is ably written, is full of interest and instruction, and enables the reader to form a conception of the man who in his day and generation gave his life for Christ’s cause and kingdom.”

The Dundee Courier says:—

“In selecting Professor Herkless to prepare this addition to the ‘Famous Scots Series’ of books, the publishers have made an excellent choice. The vigorous, manly style adopted is exactly suited to the subject, and Richard Cameron is presented to the reader in a manner as interesting as it is impressive.... Professor Herkless has done remarkably well, and the portrait he has so cleverly delineated of one of Scotland’s most cherished heroes is one that will never fade.”

Of SIR JAMES YOUNG SIMPSON, by Eve Blantyre Simpson,

the Speaker says:—

“This little book is full of insight and knowledge, and by many picturesque incidents and pithy sayings it helps us to understand in a vivid and intimate sense the high qualities and golden deeds which rendered Sir James Simpson’s strenuous life impressive and memorable.”

The Daily Chronicle says:—

“It is indeed long since we have read such a charmingly-written biography as this little Life of the most typical and ‘Famous Scot’ that his countrymen have been proud of since the time of Sir Walter.... There is not a dull, irrelevant, or superfluous page in all Miss Simpson’s booklet, and she has performed the biographer’s chief duty—that of selection—with consummate skill and judgment.”

The Leeds Mercury says:—

“The narrative throughout is well balanced, and the biographer has been wisely advised in giving prominence to her father’s great achievement—the introduction of chloroform—and what led to it.”

Of THOMAS CHALMERS, by W. Garden Blaikie,

the Spectator says:—

“The most notable feature of Professor Blaikie’s book—and none could be more commendable—is its perfect balance and proportion. In other words, justice is done equally to the private and to the public life of Chalmers, if possible greater justice than has been done by Mrs. Oliphant.”

The Scottish Congregationalist says:—

“No one can read the admirable and vivid sketch of his life which Dr. Blaikie has written without feeling admiration for the man, and gaining inspiration from his example.”

Of JAMES BOSWELL, by W. Keith Leask, the

Spectator says:—

“This is one of the best volumes of the excellent ‘Famous Scots Series,’ and one of the fairest and most discriminating biographies of Boswell that have ever appeared.”

The Dundee Advertiser says:—

“It is the admirable manner in which the very complexity of the man is indicated that makes W. Keith Leask’s biography of him one of peculiar merit and interest.... It is not only a life of Boswell, but a picture of his time—vivid, faithful, impressive.”

The Morning Leader says:—

“Mr. W. K. Leask has approached the biographer of Johnson in the only possible way by which a really interesting book could have been arrived at—by way of the open mind.... The defence of Boswell in the concluding chapter of his delightful study is one of the finest and most convincing passages that have recently appeared in the field of British biography.”

Of TOBIAS SMOLLETT, by Oliphant Smeaton,

the Dundee Courier says:—

“It is impossible to read the pages of this little work without being struck not only by its historical value, but by the fairness of its criticism.”

The Weekly Scotsman says:—

“The book is written in a crisp and lively style.... The picture of the great novelist is complete and lifelike. Not only does Mr. Smeaton give a scholarly sketch and estimate of Smollett’s literary career, he constantly keeps the reader in conscious touch and sympathy with his personality, and produces a portrait of the man as a man which is not likely to be readily forgotten.”

The Newsagent and Booksellers’ Review says:—

“Tobias Smollett was versatile enough to deserve a distinguished place in any gallery of gifted Scots, such as the one to which Mr. Smeaton has contributed this clever and lifelike portrait.”

Of FLETCHER OF SALTOUN, by W. G. T. Omond,

the Edinburgh Evening News says:—

“The writer has given us in brief compass the pith of what is known about an able and patriotic if somewhat dogmatic and impracticable Scotsman who lived in stormy times.... Mr. Omond describes, in a clear, terse, vigorous way, the constitution of the Old Scots Parliament, and the part taken by Fletcher as a public man in the stormy debates that took place prior to the union of the Parliaments in 1707. This part of the book gives an admirable summary of the state of Scottish politics and of the national feeling at an important period.”

The Leeds Mercury says:—

“Unmistakably the most interesting and complete story of the life of Fletcher of Saltoun that has yet appeared. Mr. Omond has had many facilities placed at his disposal, and of these he has made excellent use.”

The Speaker says:—

“Mr. Omond has told the story of Fletcher of Saltoun in this monograph with ability and judgment.”

Of THE BLACKWOOD GROUP, by Sir George Douglas,

the Scotsman says:—

“In brief compass, Sir George Douglas gives us skilfully blended together much pleasantly written biography and just and judicious criticism.”

The Weekly Citizen says:—

“It need not be said that to everyone interested in the literature of the first half of the century, and especially to every Scotsman so interested, ‘The Blackwood Group’ is a phrase abounding in promise. And really Sir George Douglas fulfils the promise he tacitly makes in his title. He is intimately acquainted not only with the books of the different members of the ‘group,’ but also with their environment, social and otherwise. Besides, he writes with sympathy as well as knowledge.”