COPYRIGHT 1896 By R. S. PEALE AND J. A. HILL COPYRIGHT 1902 BY J. A. HILL All Rights Reserved MADE BY BRANDER MATTHEWS, A. M., LL. B., Professor of Literature, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, New York City. JAMES B. ANGELL, LL. D.. President of the UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, Ann Arbor, Mich. WILLARD FISKE, A. M., PH. D., Late Professor of the Germanic and Scandinavian Languages and Literatures, EDWARD S. HOLDEN, A. M., LL. D., Director of the Lick Observatory, and Astronomer, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, Berkeley, Cal. ALCÉE FORTIER, LIT. D., Professor of the Romance Languages, WILLIAM P. TRENT, M. A., TULANE UNIVERSITY, New Orleans, La. Dean of the Department of Arts and Sciences, and Professor of MAURICE FRANCIS EGAN, A. M., LL. D., CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA, Washington, D. C. SYNOPSES OF FAMOUS BOOKS. HE following Synopses of books have been made in order to carry out the purpose of a reference book. Many of them are books not before referred to, and by authors not before mentioned. While the general purpose has been adhered to, of presenting a historical view of the books of the world which are fairly classed as literature, many titles have been added that it is hoped will be of service to the reader in other departments of intellectual activity. The brief synopses will perhaps give hints to the reader whether the books will interest him. In no sense is it a catalogue of all desirable books. It is rather a list, with the needed characterizations, that will be useful in a household which has not great libraries and descriptive catalogues at hand. Under some titles, also, the reader will find what he needs to know about a noted book to which he sees an allusion. Another object has been to call attention to forgotten books which may be profitably read, and the knowledge of which is an essential part of literary history. A special Index of this volume of Synopses contains all the titles and names of authors mentioned therein. These names and titles are also found in the volume "Biographical Dictionary of Authors." |