Modern English Books of Power   By: George Hamlin Fitch (1852-1925)

Transcriber's Note: Inconsistent hyphenation in the original document has been preserved. A number of obvious typographical errors have been corrected in this text. For a complete list, please see the end of this document.

[Illustration: CHARLES DICKENS READING "THE CHIMES" AT 58 LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS ON THE SECOND OF DECEMBER, 1844. FROM A SKETCH BY DANIEL MACLISE, R.A.]

MODERN ENGLISH BOOKS OF POWER

BY GEORGE HAMLIN FITCH

"A GOOD BOOK IS THE PRECIOUS LIFE BLOOD OF A MASTER SPIRIT, EMBALMED AND TREASURED UP ON PURPOSE TO A LIFE BEYOND LIFE." MILTON: AREOPAGITICA

ILLUSTRATED

BARSE & HOPKINS NEW YORK NEWARK N.Y. N.J.

Copyright , 1912 by BARSE & HOPKINS

The articles in this book appeared originally in the Sunday book page of the San Francisco Chronicle . The privilege of reproducing them here is due to the courtesy of M.H. de Young, Esq.

TO AMERIQUE WHOSE LOVE AND ENCOURAGEMENT HELPED ME TO WRITE THIS BOOK

CONTENTS

PAGE

INTRODUCTION ix

THE VITAL QUALITY IN LITERATURE xi

To Get the Spiritual Essence of a Great Book One Must Study the Man Who Wrote It The Man Is the Best Epitome of His Message.

MACAULAY'S ESSAYS IN EUROPEAN HISTORY 3

Foremost English Essayist His Style and Learning Have Made Macaulay a Favorite for Over a Half Century.

SCOTT AND HIS WAVERLEY NOVELS 11

Greatest Novelist the World Has Known Made History Real and Created Characters That Will Never Die.

CARLYLE AS AN INSPIRER OF YOUTH 20

Finest English Prose Writer His Best Books, Past and Present , Sartor Resartus and the French Revolution .

DE QUINCEY AS A MASTER OF STYLE 30

He Wrote the Confessions of an English Opium Eater Dreamed Dreams and Saw Visions and Pictured Them in Poetic Prose.

CHARLES LAMB AND THE ESSAYS OF ELIA 38

Best Beloved of All the English Writers Quaintest and Tenderest Essayist Whose Work Appeals to All Hearts.

DICKENS, THE FOREMOST OF NOVELISTS 47

More Widely Read Than Any Other Story Teller The Greatest of the Modern Humorists Appeals to the Readers of All Ages and Classes.

THACKERAY, GREATEST MASTER OF FICTION 56

The Most Accomplished Writer of His Century Tender Pathos Under an Affectation of Cynicism and Great Art in Style and Characters.

CHARLOTTE BRONTË; HER TWO GREAT NOVELS 66

Jane Eyre and Villette are Touched With Genius The Tragedy of a Woman's Life That Resulted in Two Stories of Passionate Revolt Against Fate.

GEORGE ELIOT AND HER TWO GREAT NOVELS 76

Adam Bede and The Mill on the Floss Her Early Stories Are Rich in Character Sketches, With Much Humor and Pathos.

RUSKIN, THE APOSTLE OF ART 87

Art Critic and Social Reformer Best Books Are Modern Painters , The Seven Lamps and The Stones of Venice .

TENNYSON LEADS THE VICTORIAN WRITERS 96