IN ENGLISH LETTERS BY VIDA D. SCUDDER AUTHOR OF THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT IN THE MODERN Chautauqua Home Reading Series THE CHAUTAUQUA PRESS CHAUTAUQUA, NEW YORK 1922 EDITOR'S NOTE PROF. VIDA D. SCUDDER, of Wellesley College, author of "The Life of the Spirit in the Modern English Poets," and other works, has for many years been a recognized favorite with Chautauqua readers. On two former occasions she has contributed books to the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle. A fortunate circumstance has made it possible to secure "Social Ideals in English Letters" for this year's English Course, augmented by new material dealing largely with the writings and influence of men such as John Galsworthy, George Bernard Shaw, and H. G. Wells. While the body of the book was written in 1898, at the earnest request of our literary council the author has attempted to bring her subject up to the Great War by a supplementary section in the final chapter. The indulgence of readers is asked for certain phrases in the earlier portion which present issues and people, now vanished from the scene, as if they were contemporary. In the main, however, it is believed that the positions taken in this earlier portion of the book have been justified by the passage of years. In general the author's accurate knowledge of the socialistic and democratic theories of to-day and their relation to social evolution in the |