The Book-Lovers' Anthology

By Good Press

M.Leonard in the book "The Book-Lovers' Anthology" compiled a list of short stories, poems, essays, and other writings. This book contains hundreds of books worth reading. It encompasses different genres of writing making it an exemplary piece to hold on to.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Good Press
• Release date: Nov 29, 2019
• ISBN: 4057664591746

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Various

The Book-Lovers' Anthology

Published by Good Press, 2022

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EAN 4057664591746

Table of Contents

PREFACE

GRACE BEFORE BOOKS

THE DELIGHTFUL SOCIETY OF BOOKS

THE CONTENTMENT I HAVE IN MY BOOKS

HE THAT LOVETH A BOOK WILL NEVER WANT

THE COMPANY OF MUTES

A CONSOLATION FOR THE DEAF

SWEET UNREPROACHING COMPANIONS

MY DAYS AMONG THE DEAD ARE PASSED

A HEAVENLY DELIGHT

THE BEST OF ALL POSSIBLE COMPANY

THE FELLOWSHIP OF BOOKS

A COMPANY OF THE WISEST AND THE WITTIEST

A MAGNATE IN THE REALM OF BOOKS

MY BOOKS

TO MY BOOKS

ON PARTING WITH MY BOOKS

TO MY BOOKS ON PARTING WITH THEM

TRUE FRIENDS THAT CHEER

MY BOOKS

TO SIR HENRY GOODYER

OUR BEST ACQUAINTANCE

THE TRUE ELYSIAN FIELDS

BOOKS AND FRIENDS

THE DESIRABLE TABERNACLE

MAN'S PREROGATIVE

TO HIS BOOKS

THE LEGACIES OF GENIUS

IN PRISON

THE DEPOSITARY OF EVERYTHING HONOURABLE

LOVE THAT IS LARGE

A CATHOLIC TASTE IN BOOKS

A SENSE OF HUMOUR

BOOKS THE TRUE LEVELLERS

AUTHORS AS LOVERS OF BOOKS

THE THEORY OF BOOKS

BOOKS A SUBSTANTIAL WORLD

TO WORDSWORTH

THE SOULS OF BOOKS

USEFUL AND MIGHTY THINGS

AN EXTRAORDINARY DELIGHT TO STUDY

SWEET AND HAPPY HOURS

THE PROUDER PLEASURES OF THE MIND

A TASTE TO BE PRAYED FOR

MORE THAN MEAT, DRINK, AND CLOTHING

THE BOOK THE HIGHEST DELIGHT

THE PLEASURE DERIVED FROM BOOKS

OUR DEBT TO A BOOK

RICH FARE

POWER AND GLADNESS

THE COMMODITY REAPED OF BOOKS

BOOKS IS NURSE TO TRUTH

FOR WISDOM, PIETY, DELIGHT, OR USE

OF THE ENTERTAINMENT OF BOOKS

INSTRUCTION OR AMUSEMENT

EXERCISE FOR THE MIND

WHY BOOKS WERE INVENTED

WHY BOOKS ARE READ

THE INFLUENCE OF BOOKS

REMUNERATIVE READING

THE MOOD FOR BOOKS

BY DIVINE INSPIRATION

PERMANENCE FOR THOUGHT

THE MIRACULOUS ART OF WRITING

BOOKS AS MEMORIALS

FASHION IN BOOKS

COATS FOR MACKEREL

TO HIS BOOK

IMMORTALITY IN BOOKS

ENDURING MONUMENTS

THE STRANGE QUALITY OF BOOKS

BOOKS ARE NOT DEAD THINGS

SHAKESPEARE IN HEAVEN

THE LIBRARIES OF HEAVEN

THE ONLY THINGS THAT LAST FOR EVER

THE AUTHORS' METAMORPHOSIS

O BLESSED LETTERS

A LASTING LINK OF AGES

THE VIRTUE OF A TRUE BOOK

ACTION AND REACTION

THE ULTIMATE TEST OF BOOKS

BOOKS OF THE HOUR AND OF ALL TIME

WHO WILL BELIEVE MY VERSE

IMMORTALITY IN SONG

ONE DAY I WROTE HER NAME

WELL I REMEMBER HOW YOU SMILED

THE MULTIPLICITY OF BOOKS

SUPERFLUOUS BOOKS

MULTIPLICATION IS VEXATION

THE MULTIPLICATION OF ORIGINALS

THE AUTHORS' ADVANTAGE

AN IGNORANT AGE HATH MANY BOOKS

THE DIFFUSION OF BOOKS AND ITS EFFECT ON CULTURE

THE DISTRACTION OF CHOICE

A LIBRARY OF ONE

A LIBRARY OF TWELVE

ANCIENT AND MODERN BOOKS

THE BATTLE OF THE BOOKS

OLD AUTHORS TO READ

CLASSICUS

THE DEAD ALONE CANONIZED

THE CLASSICS

THE MOONS OF LITERATURE

THE READING OF NEW BOOKS

THE CLASSICS ALWAYS MODERN

ON READING OLD BOOKS

ON READING NEW BOOKS

A PREFERENCE FOR GREAT MODELS

THE VALUE OF MODERN BOOKS

A SORT OF THIRD ESTATE

OLD AND NEW BOOKS

SECURITY IN OLD BOOKS

TO MY BOOK

HIS PRAYER FOR ABSOLUTION

BOOKS THAT DO HURT

BOOKS AND THIEVES

MOUNTEBANK AUTHORS

PRINTERS GAIN BY BAD BOOKS

THE EVIL THAT MEN DO

BOOKS BAD AND GOOD

ON CERTAIN BOOKS

'TO THE PURE ALL THINGS ARE PURE'

LIBERTY AND BAD BOOKS

BAD BOOKS AND DEBAUCHED MINDS

VIRGINIBUS PUERISQUE

A WHIMSICAL SURPRISE

ROMANCES ARE PERNICIOUS

WHETHER 'TIS LAWFUL TO READ ROMANCES

THE DANGER OF POETS AND ROMANCES

A DAUGHTER'S FAVOURITE NOVELS

'ONLY A NOVEL'

NOVELS AS ENGINES OF CIVILIZATION

A NOVEL OF HIGH LIFE

NOVELS ARE SWEETS

EVERY MAN HIS DUE

PLAGIARIE

TRANSPLANTATION

BOOK-MAKERS AND PLAGIARISTS

A LEARNED PLAGIARY

HIDDEN TREASURE

LITERARY COOKERY

THE MANUFACTORY OF BOOKS

HOW VOLUMES SWELL

RECIPE FOR AN ANTHOLOGY

TO LEIGH HUNT, ON AN OMISSION IN HIS 'FEAST OF THE POETS'

OUR MASTER, MELEAGER

THAT INVENTION OF THE ENEMY—AN ABRIDGEMENT

ORIGINAL EDITIONS

PRESENTATION COPIES

POETS AND THEIR BIBLIOGRAPHIES

MEN IN THEIR NIGHTGOWNS

BIOGRAPHY

BIOGRAPHY PREFERRED TO HISTORY

ON READING TRANSLATIONS

ON FIRST LOOKING INTO CHAPMAN'S HOMER

TRANSLATIONS FROM THE CLASSICS

TO MY WORTHY AND HONOURED FRIEND MASTER GEORGE CHAPMAN

WHEN TRANSLATIONS ARE TO BE PREFERRED

'THAT SILLY VANITY OF IMPERTINENT CITATIONS'

QUOTATION

MERIT IN QUOTATION

WHAT SHAKESPEARE HATH LEFT US

ON THE PORTRAIT OF SHAKESPEARE

SHAKESPEARE'S LIVELONG MONUMENT

UNDER MR. MILTON'S PICTURE BEFORE HIS 'PARADISE LOST'

UPON MY BROTHER'S BOOK CALLED 'THE GROUNDS, LABOUR AND REWARD OF FAITH'

UPON THE BOOK AND PICTURE OF THE SERAPHICAL SAINT TERESA

THE SEAT OF AUTHORITY

BOOKS PREFERRED TO PREACHERS

BOOKS OF MORALITY

THE SECRET INFLUENCE OF BOOKS

DEAD COUNSELLORS ARE SAFEST

THE REAL WORKING EFFECTIVE CHURCH

BOOKS AS SIGN-POSTS

THE NEED OF A GUIDE TO BOOKS

THE TRUE UNIVERSITY OF THESE DAYS

OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE: TWO EPIGRAMS

THE ANSWER

AGAINST WRITERS THAT CARP AT OTHER MEN'S BOOKS

A CRITIC

STYLE v. SENSE

WHERE FOOLS RUSH IN

LITERARY HYPOCRISY

IN THE SEAT OF THE SCORNER

THE FINAL VERDICT UPON BOOKS

THE CRITICS' INFLUENCE ON THE PUBLIC

TASTE IN LITERATURE AND ART

THE FILIAL PIETY OF BOOKS

THE MOTE AND THE BEAM

CENSORSHIP

THE IMPRIMATUR

A GREAT BOOK IS A GREAT EVIL

A LITTLE BOOK THE MOST EXCELLENT

BOOKS WITH ONE IDEA IN THEM

BOOKS OF ONE THOUGHT

INDUCTIVE CRITICISM

READING BETWEEN LINES

PURPLE PATCHES

THE ROYAL ROAD

READERS AND WRITERS

STUDIES

HOW TO SPEND OUR DAYS

THE CHOICE OF BOOKS

CHEWING THE CUD

THE SUFFICIENCY OF HOMER

HOMER AND VIRGIL

READ WITHOUT PREJUDICE

READING ACCORDING TO INCLINATION

READ FEW BOOKS WELL

BOOKS AS FRUITFUL TREES

READING SEVERAL BOOKS AT A TIME

WHEN AND WHERE TO READ

SMALL AUTHORS DANGEROUS

BOOKS THAT PROVOKE THOUGHT

RULES FOR READING

A DIET OF BOOKS

A COURSE OF READING

OF READING

POETS AS COMMENTATORS

THE METHOD OF READING PROFANE HISTORY

EPITOMES

ABSTRACTS OF BOOKS

BOOKS TO BE MARKED

UNDERSCORING

THE PARSON'S ACCESSORY KNOWLEDGE

COMMONPLACE BOOKS

A NEW METHOD OF A COMMONPLACE BOOK

THE BEE AND THE BUTTERFLY

SKIPPING WIT

CHANCE READINGS

RIDING POST

APPETITE AND SATIETY

THE HABIT OF CASUAL READING

JOHNSON'S CURSORY READING

DESULTORY READING

THE GREATEST CLERKS BE NOT ALWAYS THE WISEST MEN

A BOOKISH AMBITION

FULL LIBRARIES AND EMPTY HEADS

TO THE GOOD OR BAD READER

A PRETENDER TO LEARNING

SUPERFICIAL READERS

THE READING COXCOMB

READING TO KILL TIME

TALKING FROM BOOKS

A SHORT CUT TO FAME

TITLE-READERS

THE BURNING OF DON QUIXOTE'S BOOKS

BRAINS SQUASHED BY BOOKS

FOLLY GENERATED BY BOOKS

SURCLOYING THE STOMACH

OVER-READING

DEEP-VERSED IN BOOKS AND SHALLOW IN HIMSELF

SWALLOWING THE HUSKS

READING AND ILLITERACY

READING AS INTELLECTUAL INDOLENCE

BOOKS AND MEN

BOOKS AND LIFE

THE MIGHTY DEAD

THE MESSAGE OF BOOKS

OVERRATING THE VIRTUE OF BOOKS

BOOKS AN ENEMY TO HEALTH

WHAT PROFITS IT

BOOKS AND EYESIGHT

WHEN TO READ

BOOKS INSTEAD OF STIMULANTS

THE PHARMACY OF BOOKS

A LITERATURA HILARIS

THE BLESSED CHLOROFORM OF THE MIND

LOUNGING BOOKS

TO DRIVE THE NIGHT AWAY

READING IN BED

READING AND MEAL TIMES

THE DOG AND THE BONE

PROOF OF GOOD MATTER

WRITING AT MEAL TIMES

OUT-OF-DOORS READING

O FOR A BOOKE

FAREWELL TO BOOKS IN SPRINGTIME

THE TABLES TURNED

LEARNING

PICTURE BOOKS IN WINTER

THE HORN-BOOK

OLD STORY BOOKS

THE FIRST AUTHORS FOR YOUTH

BOOKS AND THE WORLD

ADVICE TO MOTHERS

GETTING A BOY FORWARD

AT LARGE IN THE LIBRARY

THE BEST BOOKS THE COMMONEST

MONTAIGNE'S EARLY READING

JOHNSON'S EARLY READING

GIBBON'S EARLY READING

A BIRTH OF INTELLECT

WORDSWORTH'S EARLY READING

OLD-FASHIONED VERSE

LEIGH HUNT'S EARLY READING

A KINDLY TIE

CHARLES DICKENS'S EARLY READING

THE VISIONARY GLEAM

READING FOR LOVE'S SAKE

VALEDICTION TO HIS BOOK

THE BOOK OF THE BRAIN

LOVE'S PURVEYOR

THE DOUBLE LESSON

CUPID AND THE BOOK OF POEMS

BOOKS AS SPOKESMEN

TO HIS BOOK: OF HIS LADY

TO THE LADY LUCY, COUNTESS OF BEDFORD

A BOOK OF FLESH AND BLOOD

WOMEN'S EYES

[Greek: UPOTHÊKÊ EIS EMAUTON]

OF A NEW MARRIED STUDENT THAT PLAYED FAST AND LOOSE

MARRIAGE AND BOOKS

MARRIAGE! MY YEARS ARE YOUNG

LOVE AND THE LIBRARY

A COUNTER ATTRACTION

TO COSMELIA

ON A PRAYER BOOK SENT TO MRS. M. R.

ON GEORGE HERBERT'S 'THE TEMPLE' SENT TO A GENTLEWOMAN

TO HELEN

SENT WITH POEMS

WOMAN AND BOOKS

THE GHOST OF BETTY BARNES

A CHEAP AND LASTING PLEASURE

THE POETS

THE WORLD OF BOOKS

THE CLASSICAL EDUCATION OF WOMEN

GIRLS' READING

POETRY AND PIETY

A LADY'S LIBRARY

WOMEN'S WANT

BOOKS FOR A LADY'S LIBRARY

TO A LADY FURNISHING HER LIBRARY AT *** IN WARWICKSHIRE

LYDIA LANGUISH AND THE CIRCULATING LIBRARY

THE OLD BACHELOR'S BOOKS

THE OXFORD SCHOLAR AND HIS BOOKS

THE CHIEF FOOL

THE ENVOY OF ALEXANDER BARCLAY, TRANSLATOR EXHORTING THE FOOLES ACCLOYED WITH THIS VICE TO AMEND THEIR FOLLY

LETTER-FERRETS

DAINTIES THAT ARE BRED OF A BOOK

AN ANTIQUARY

AN IGNORANT BOOK-COLLECTOR

THE BIBLIOMANIA

BIBLIOSOPHIA

GOLDEN VOLUMES! RICHEST TREASURES!

A MALADY OF WEAK MINDS

AN UNWORTHY PROFESSOR

A BIBLIOMANIAC

THE ENVIABLE BOOKWORM

EARS NAILED TO BOOKS

THE ANTIQUARY'S TREASURES

KISSING A FOLIO

THE LITERARY HAREM

BAYARD TAYLOR

DEFINITIONS

THE LAST EDITIONS THE BEST

SIBRANDUS SCHAFNABURGENSIS

A STUDENT

OF HANDLING BOOKS

DEDUCTIONS FROM SCRIPTURE

AN EDITION DE LUXE

CARE AS TO BINDINGS

GOLD CLASPS AND A GOLDEN STORY

NOBLER THAN CONTENTS

LINES HAVE THEIR LININGS, AND BOOTS THEIR BUCKRAM

EYE-WORSHIP

BOOKBINDINGS

DISCRIMINATION IN BINDINGS

SUITABLE BINDINGS

'TIS FOLLY TO BE WISE

THE OUTSIDE OF A BOOK

BOOKS YOU MAY HOLD IN YOUR HAND

BOOK ILLUSTRATIONS AND NIGHTMARE

DELIGHT IN BOOK-PRINTS

A NEAT RIVULET OF TEXT

THE BOOKWORMS

THE BOOKWORM

A MOTH

THE CURE FOR BOOKWORMS

ROYAL PATRONAGE OF BOOKS

THE TREASURE

THE MOST VALUABLE BOOK

THE READERS AT THE BOOKSTALL

TETRACHORDON

THE SECOND-HAND CATALOGUE

THE FIND

PURCHASING AN ACT OF PIETY

A FORCED SALE

THE VOCATION

TO MY BOOKSELLER

THE WRITER TO HIS BOOK

AD BIBLIOPOLAM

IN BONDAGE TO THE BOOKSELLER

IN PATERNOSTER ROW

THE ELEPHANT AND THE BOOKSELLER

LITERARY UPHOLSTERERS

ON A MISCELLANY OF POEMS

VERSES TO BE PREFIXED BEFORE BERNARD LINTOTT'S NEW MISCELLANY

TO MR. MURRAY

TO THE EDITOR OF 'THE EVERY-DAY BOOK'

THE BANNATYNE CLUB, OR ONE VOLUME MORE

THE BOOKSELLERS' BANQUET

WHAT A HEART-BREAKING SHOP

GENTEEL ORNAMENTS

MAMMON AND BOOKS

THE POOR STUDENT

NATIONAL EXPENDITURE ON BOOKS

THE VALUE OF BOOK BORROWING

ACCIDENTS TO BOOKS

BORROWERS OF BOOKS

BORROWING AND LENDING

WEDDED TO BOOKS

THE ART OF BOOK-KEEPING

THE BOOK OF NATURE

THE BOOK

THE BOOK OF LIFE

THE WIND OVER THE CHIMNEY

A GREAT NECROMANCER

BOOKS FOR MAGIC

THE SECRET OF STRENGTH

RED LETTERS AND CONJURING

MERLIN'S BOOK

FAST AND LOOSE

READ THE SCRIPTURES

TO THE HOLY BIBLE

ON BUYING THE BIBLE

'I READ ONLY THE BIBLE'

A MAN OF ONE BOOK

HOMO UNIUS LIBRI

THE SCRIPTURES: WHAT ARE THEY?

'THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS'

NO BOOK LIKE THE BIBLE

TO A FAMILY BIBLE

THE BOOK OF BOOKS

A VERY PRICELESS THING

MATERIAL FOR POESY

SACRED AND PROFANE WRITERS

A STANDARD FOR LANGUAGE

THE GRAND MINE OF DICTION

THE ENGLISH OF THE BIBLE

THE BIBLE AND BURNS

THE BIG HA'-BIBLE

'OF THE IMITATION OF CHRIST'

LITERARY GEOGRAPHY

ON 'CORYAT'S CRUDITES'

LITERATURE FOR DESOLATE ISLANDS

BOOKS FOR THE SALON

THE LIBRARY AND THE GRAVE

THE LIBRARY A GLORIOUS COURT

THE LIBRARY AS STUDY

THE STUDY

THE CONSULTING ROOM OF A WISE MAN

THE LIBRARY A KEY TO CHARACTER

THE SCENT OF BOOKS

AN EPISCOPAL LIBRARY

A MODERN LIBRARY

SAFE AND UNTOUCHED

CIBBER'S LIBRARY

MR. SHANDY'S LIBRARY

DOMINIE SAMPSON IN THE LIBRARY

THE PEASANT'S LIBRARY

THE LIBRARY IN THE GARRET

MONTAIGNE'S LIBRARY

A COLLOQUY IN A LIBRARY

CHARLES LAMB'S LIBRARY

STANZAS COMPOSED IN THE REV. J. MITFORD'S LIBRARY

THE SHRINES OF THE ANCIENT SAINTS

A MOST HORRIBLE INFAMY

LIBRARIES FOR EVERY CITY

THE LIBRARY

THE REFERENCE LIBRARY

IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM LIBRARY

THE LIBRARY AN HERACLEA

BOOKS IN A NEW LIGHT

ON THE SIGHT OF A GREAT LIBRARY

REFLECTIONS IN A LIBRARY

THOUGHTS IN A LIBRARY

THE TRUE POEM ON THE LIBRARY

THE LIBRARY

THE LIBRARY

OF LIBRARIES: THE BODLEIAN

ON THE DEATH OF SIR THOMAS BODLEY

TO BE CHAINED WITH GOOD AUTHORS

AN ODE ADDRESSED TO MR. JOHN ROUSE

LIBRARIAN, OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD

PINDARIC ODE

ON SIR THOMAS BODLEY'S LIBRARY, THE AUTHOR BEING THEN IN OXFORD

THE BODLEIANS OF OXFORD

THE BODLEIAN: A DEAD SEA OF BOOKS

A COLLEGE LIBRARY

MERTON LIBRARY

OXFORD NIGHTS

ON THE LIBRARY AT CAMBRIDGE

THE SOUL'S VIATICUM

INDEX OF AUTHORS

PREFACE

Table of Contents

One of the most delightful of the Last Essays of Elia is entitled 'Detached Thoughts on Books and Reading', a title which would serve very well to indicate the contents of this anthology. In bringing together into one volume the tributes and opinions of a galaxy of writers, my object has been the glorification of books as books, a book being regarded as a real and separate entity, and often as an end in itself. There is a wide circle to whom this collection should appeal, in addition to bibliomaniacs or mere collectors of first or rare editions to whom the contents are often anathema, for the love of books is not confined to scholars or great readers. This love is incommunicable: it comes, but happily seldom goes, as the wind which bloweth where it listeth; it is perfectly sincere, and knows nothing of conventions and sham admirations.

No greater lover of books has ever lived than that Englishman who was born at Bury St. Edmunds seven hundred and thirty years ago—Richard de Bury, Bishop of Durham, author of Philobiblon, and, as Lord Campbell said, undoubtedly the founder of the order of book-lovers in England. Centuries passed, and then the more modern worship of books was promoted by one of even higher station than this lord chancellor and lord high treasurer of England—by King James, whom sycophants and cynics called the British Solomon. The sixteenth century saw also the births of Bacon, Burton, and Florio, the inspired translator of Montaigne, and Ben Jonson, who all deserved well of the order. Milton, with prose and poetry, handed down the sacred fire in the seventeenth century, and his

soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart.

Dr. Johnson, nearly a hundred years later, filled a niche of his own, irreverent though he was to books except for their message. The latter half of the eighteenth century is especially memorable, for it synchronized with the early years of Southey, Lamb, and Leigh Hunt, the very temples of the spirit which I have sought to enshrine in these pages, and of Hazlitt, and of two who should be dear to librarians, Crabbe and John Foster. I should like to claim an honoured place in the nineteenth century for Bulwer Lytton, who, although he understood 'the merits of a spotless shirt', understood books also and appreciated them thoroughly; and for the Brownings, especially the author of Aurora Leigh. Emerson is conspicuous, not only as a book-lover, but also as a professor of books, and as a missionary in the sense that Carlyle and Ruskin preached the gospel of books. Many others deserve honourable mention, but I must pass on to some of those who adorn the present day. It would have been very pleasant to have seen Lord Morley, Mr. Frederic Harrison, Mr. Austin Dobson, Mr. Edmund Gosse, Mr. Andrew Lang, and Mr. Augustine Birrell appearing in this cloud of witness, but happily they are alive to testify to the faith that is in them, and for that reason are beyond the scope of an anthology confined to authors who are dead.

It may be pointed out that there has been an increasing tendency to write not so much about books as about the authors of books; but to have included literary criticism, except incidentally, would have increased this volume to prodigious size. While I have been obliged for the same reason to ignore, as a rule, individual volumes, an exception has been made of the Bible, which is itself a library, and this is justified by the fact that many pages are devoted to libraries. Scores of poems have been prefixed to volumes or addressed in apology to possible readers, but these, and colophons, interesting though they may be, do not fit in with my scheme. However tempting it seemed to give versions of Catullus, Horace, or Martial, translations from ancient classic writers have been excluded; but room has been found for classic writers of comparatively modern times, for it would have been ridiculous to have passed over, for example, Montaigne, whose immortal essays have been handed down in the splendid English dress of John Florio's design. For the rest, the contents of this volume, in which more than 200 authors bear their varying testimony, must speak for themselves.

The passages will be found grouped more or less according to subjects, though the dividing lines are fine, and chronological order within the limits of the groups has been a secondary consideration. After forewords by Lamb, the anthology deals with books as companions, the love of and delight in books, the immortality of books and the immortality which they convey, the multiplicity of books and the distraction of choice; ancient and modern books and their respective claims; books that are or may be thought injurious; novels and romances; bookmaking of various kinds—plagiarism, books about books, anthologies, abridgements, dedications, presentation copies, bibliographies, translations, and quotations; books and preachers, and books as 'the true university of these days'; critics and criticism; rules for reading, commonplace-books, abstracts, epitomes, and marginalia; casual and superficial reading, talking from books, brains turned by books, over-reading; books and life; books as an enemy to health and as pharmaceutical preparations for mental indisposition; reading in bed, at meal-times, and out-of-doors, and the call of the book of nature; the horn-book and other books for children; advice on youthful reading, and the early preferences of some notable book-lovers; love and literature, and the conflict between matrimony and the library; women and books and libraries; the human species of book-worms, bibliomaniacs, and pedants; the proper handling of books; bindings, book illustrations, &c.; book pests—worms and moths; 'finds' at second-hand bookshops and what Leigh Hunt calls 'bookstall urbanity'; booksellers and publishers; mammon and books; book borrowers and book borrowing; bookish similes; books for magic; the Bible; literary geography; libraries—as studies and keys to character, private libraries real and imaginary, public libraries—from the provincial reference library to the British Museum, reflections in libraries, Crabbe's masterpiece, the libraries of Oxford and Cambridge with fitting tributes to Bodley; and, finally, a memorable tribute to books and the priceless treasury that a library affords. The source of the quotations is generally given; and the index of authors quoted or referred to, together with a full list of contents, and, it is hoped, the notes, should serve the convenience of the reader.

Many years ago Mr. Alexander Ireland gave me a copy of The Book-Lover's Enchiridion, and my debt to that 'treasury of thoughts on the Solace and Companionship of Books' is great. Mr. Ireland's object was 'to present, in chronological order, a selection of the best thoughts of the greatest and wisest minds on the subject of Books—their solace and companionship—their efficacy as silent teachers and guides—and the comfort, as of a living presence, which they afford amidst the changes of fortune and the accidents of life.' In this volume I have taken the subject and myself less seriously than would have been possible to Mr. Ireland. The 'thoughts' which I have collected are more 'detached', and they cover a wider field. I am under much obligation also to the Ballads of Books, which Mr. Brander Matthews compiled nearly a quarter of a century ago and Mr. Andrew Lang recast, and to Mr. W. Roberts's Book-Verse. Mainly, however, I have relied upon my own personal reading—'blessing,' as Lamb said, 'my stars for a taste so catholic, so unexcluding'—and upon research, in which I have had invaluable assistance from friends and colleagues. I am fortunately able to include many copyright pieces, and I have to thank the following for the necessary permission:—

Messrs. G. Bell & Sons, Ltd., for B. W. Procter's autobiographical fragment, 'My Books'; Messrs. Chapman & Hall, for what I have taken from a contribution to the Fortnightly Review by Mark Pattison, and for the passage from Carlyle's Historical Sketches; Messrs. Chatto & Windus, for the poems by Laman Blanchard, also for the passage from R. Jefferies' Life of the Fields; and Messrs. Macmillan & Co., for the excerpt from the same author's The Dewy Morn; Messrs. Constable & Co., and the executors of the late George Gissing, for the passages from The Private Papers of Henry Ryecroft; Mr. A. C. Fifield, for Samuel Butler's whimsical irreverence quoted from Quis Desiderio; Mr. Edward Garnett, for Richard Garnett's poem; the Houghton Mifflin Co., for Whittier's 'The Library'; Messrs. Longmans, Green & Co., for R. L. Stevenson's 'Picture Books in Winter' (and Messrs. Charles Scribner's Sons in respect of copyright in America); Mr. Elkin Mathews, for Lionel Johnson's poem; Messrs. G. Routledge & Sons, Ltd., for Longfellow's 'My Books', and 'Bayard Taylor' (and the Houghton Mifflin Co. in respect of copyright in America); Messrs. Smith, Elder & Co., for J. A. Symonds's poem from Lyrics of Life; and Dr. A. Stoddart Walker, for permission to quote from J. S. Blackie's Self-Culture.

In Guesses at Truth the brothers Hare wrote: 'They who cannot weave a uniform net, may at least produce a piece of patchwork, which may be useful, and not without a charm of its own.' It is my modest ambition that book-lovers shall find this volume useful and not without charm.

R. M. Leonard.

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