It is somewhat curious that there is, so far as I know, no complete handling in English of the subject of this volume, popular and important though that subject has been. Dunlop s History of Fiction, an excellent book, dealt with a much wider matter, and perforce ceased its dealing just at the beginning of the most abundant and brilliant development of the English division. Sir Walter Raleigh s English Novel, a book of the highest value for acute criticism and grace of style, stops short at Miss A usten, and oi Jyglances, by a sort of anticipation, at Scott. The late Mr. Sidney Lanier s English Novel and the Principle of its Development is really nothing but a laudatory study of George Eliot, with glances at other writers, including violent denunciations of the great eighteenthcentury men. There are numerous monographs on parts of the subject: but nothing else that I know even attempting the whole. I should, of course, have liked to deal with so large a matter in a larger space: but one may and should cultivate the garden even if it is not a garden of many acres in extent. I need only add that I have endeavoured, not so much to give reviews of individual books and authors, as to indicate what Mr. (Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don"t occur in the book.) About the Publisher Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, History, Folklore and Mythology. Forgotten Books" Classic Reprint Series utilizes the latest technology to regenerate facsimiles of historically important writings. Careful attention has been made to accurately preserve the original format of each page whilst digitally enhancing the aged text. Read books online for free at www.forgottenbooks.org