PREFACE ΤΟ THE LIBRARY OF CHOICE LITERATURE OF ALL NATIONS. F IFTY years ago, Mr. Charles Knight paid the following compliment to an antiquated collection of "Elegant Literary Extracts," which had been in his father's library: "They opened to me the floodgates of literature." Since the days of Knight the publication of anthologies of poetry and prose have multiplied in all shapes and forms, but no work has heretofore appeared, aiming at the same wide scope, as the one now offered for public patronage-The Authors and Literature of the whole world. In this, our LIBRARY OF CHOICE LITERATURE OF ALL NATIONS, there are about 2,500 selections from about 1,500 authors, nearly half of which are translated from foreign or from dead languages, and in nearly every instance they are accompanied by a brief biography of the author. In launching for public patronage this new literary venture, the editors and publishers of the LIBRARY OF CHOICE LITERATURE OF ALL NATIONS have aimed to make their selections as broad as its title. Not only are the standard writers of English and American literature represented at their best, but the authors of all civilized countries: HINDOO, PERSIAN, CHINESE, ARABIAN, GREEK, LATIN, GERMAN, PORTUGUESE, FRENCH, ITALIAN, SPANISH, RUSSIAN, DANISH, SWEDISH, DUTCH and other languages are represented by approved translations from their most noted writers. The advantages that such an Encyclopædia of Literature must possess for every household are so manifest that we need not dwell upon them. To the great majority of readers this enterprise will unseal the fountains of knowledge of many foreign authors hitherto unknown. It is believed that the public are ready to welcome an enterprise which will give them, in a compact form of ten handy volumes of letterpress, a Library of Literature so comprehensive as to include choice spec 291551 imens of every writer of established fame, chosen from the best works of novelists and poets, eloquent orators and judicious publicists, philosophers and historians, travellers and voyagers, biographers and essayists, theologians and dramatists, not forgetting the reviewers and pamphleteers, which we have gathered into the Library here presented to the reader. It is hoped that it will find a welcome as extensive as its scope. The American Editor here desires to record his acknowledgment for the kindness of authors and publishers in permitting the use of their copyright works, and kindly placing at his disposal the many valuable selections from their respective publications, herein laid before the reader. It is the ambition of the publishers to produce the Library in a style worthy of its contents, in typography, illustrations, paper and binding. To the scholar in his study, the workman reading at the public library or at home, but most especially TO THE PRIVATE FAMILIES OF AMERICA, do we commend this work, in the confident belief that its contents, equally varied and entertaining, will be of such value for culture, instruction and entertainment as cannot be overstated. THE ONE HUNDRED PHOTOGRAVURE ILLUSTRATIONS FORM A GALLERY OF ART EXCLUSIVELY DEVOTED TO THE REPRESENTATION OF LITERATURE, such as has never been seen till now; and these pictures, by the best artists of all nations, conclusively prove the importance of the editors' selections from literature, because the paintings were made for the text, not the text for the paintings, and the great modern painters confirm the good judgment of the editors in their selection of great masterpieces. The publishers have carefully kept in view two things in making their selection of illustrations for this grand work: First, That the photogravures should be made only from paintings by first class artists; and Secondly, That they have been painted to specially illustrate the subject. for which they are selected. This Cabinet Gallery of one hundred paintings is a new departure in its alliance with an Encyclopædia of Literature, so superior in its aim, that we feel certain of its favorable reception by the public. |