PREFACE. HOMAS B. SHAW'S Outlines of English Literature, THOMAS rewritten by William Smith, LL.D., and published as A Complete Manual of English Literature, has been held in high esteem by American teachers during the last ten years. While its merits have been recognized, its defects, too, have been discovered. The work was intended by its American publishers to be used in colleges only, but, owing to the want of a more suitable text-book, it has come into extensive use in high-schools and academies. In order to meet the criticisms of teachers who have introduced it into these schools, a thorough revision of the Manual has been made. In the revision I have attempted, (1), To improve the logical arrangement; (2), To correct the lack of unity in several chapters; (3), To simplify the style. Mr. Shaw sought "to render the work as little dry—as readable, in short-as is consistent with accuracy and comprehensiveness;" but his abounding use of relative constructions and his involved sentences defeated his purpose to some extent; for they defied the patience of many students. In endeavoring to present the topics in a clearer style, it has been necessary for me to rewrite many of the chapters. As compared with the Manual, the peculiarities of this volume are, (a), A fuller discussion of the "Old-English” and “Middle-English" literatures; (b), An assignment of prominent positions to the most famous writers; (c), A free use of short and striking quotations from the works of the keenest English and American critics—in some cases inserted in the text, in others given as foot-notes, and in others placed at the head of a chapter, for the purpose of inciting the student to a more curious and appreciative read- . ing of an author; (d), A collection of references to the best collateral readings upon the topics considered; (e), The use of a few simple diagrams, intended to aid the student in remembering important classifications of authors; (f), The omission of authors who have not contributed to the historical development of our literature. It will be observed that several essays in this volume are printed in a conspicuous manner. A reason must be given for this innovation upon the usual typography of text-books. Among teachers of English literature, there is a growing conviction that much time is wasted in the class-room by attempting to learn about too many authors. Such an attempt is dissipating to the mind of the student, and is most unsatisfactory to the teacher. Wherever the students can have access to a good library, it will be found to be the most profitable use of the time generally allotted to this subject to have them study brief biographies of the few authors who have wielded potent influence over our thought and our language, to have them read the best criticisms upon these authors, and the best passages from their works. With this plan in view, the essays on Chaucer, Spenser, Shakespeare, Bacon, Milton, Dryden, Pope, Swift, Addison, Johnson, Goldsmith, Burns, Scott, and Byron, have been printed in the most attractive manner; references have been furnished to judicious criticisms of their works, and to choice specimens of their writings. This peculiarity of the book has not 'been allowed to disturb the orderly presentation of a general outline of the history of our literature. Following Mr. Shaw's plan, I have refrained from discussing the lives and works of English authors who are now living. The Sketch of American Literature was written by the late Henry Theodore Tuckerman in 1852. In 1870, the year before his death, he revised it for publication in the last edition of the Manual. It has received plentiful and most appreciative praise. It is adapted to the wants of the classroom, supplying to the teacher just the outline needed in explaining to his students the marvellous growth and variety of American literature, and giving to the students a model of easy and genial criticism. In making this revision of the Manual, I have been unwilling to tamper with an essay, so elegant in its style, and so discriminating in its thought. Throughout the volume references are made to Professor B. N. Martin's Choice Specimens of English and American Literature. The black-faced figures (1) refer to the sections in his books. VASSAR COLLEGE, TRUMAN J. BACKUS. A BRIEF MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. THOMAS BUDD SHAW, born in London, on the 12th of October, 1813, was the seventh son of John Shaw, F. R. S., an eminent architect. From a very early period of his life, though of delicate constitution, he manifested that delight in the acquisition of knowledge which was continued throughout his subsequent career. In the year 1822 he accompanied his uncle, the Rev. Francis Whitfield, to Berbice, in the West Indies. That gentleman was eminently qualified to advance his nephew in his studies and in the formation of his character. On his return from the West Indies, in 1827, Shaw entered the Free School at Shrewsbury, where he became a favorite pupil of Dr. Butler, afterwards Bishop of Lichfield. There it was remarked of him that, although inferior to some of his contemporaries in the critical exactness of his scholarship, he was surpassed by none in the intuitive power with which he comprehended the genius and spirit of the great writers of antiquity. At this early period he rapidly accumulated that general and varied knowledge of books, which when acquired seemed never to be forgotten. From Shrewsbury, in 1833, Mr. Shaw proceeded to St. John's College, Cambridge. On taking his degree, in 1836, he became tutor in the family of an eminent merchant; and subsequently, in 1840, he was induced to leave England for Russia, where he conmenced his useful and honorable career, finally settling in St. Petersburgh in the year 1841. Here he formed an intimacy with M. War |