Dinah Maria Craik (1826-1888). Author of many novels, preëminent among which are "John Halifax, Gentleman" and "A Life for a Life" (1859). Others are "Mistress and Maid" (1863), "A Noble Life" (1866), "The Woman's Kingdom" (1869), etc. Charles Dickens (1812-1870). Voluminous novelist, editor, and reformer. Author of "Pickwick Papers" (1836), “Oliver Twist” (1838), which portrays criminal life in London, "Nicholas Nickleby" (1838), written to expose the cruelties of certain Yorkshire schools, "Old Curiosity Shop" with its heroine Little Nell, “David Copperfield" (1850), which is largely autobiographical, and perhaps his best novel, and many others. (See Text.) 66 William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1862). A novelist, editor, and poet of keen analytic and satirical power. His best works are "Vanity Fair" (1847), a novel without a hero, "Pendennis" (1848), Henry Esmond" (1852), which is commonly regarded as his best work, "The Newcomes" (1855), and "The Virginians" (1859). His English Humorists" is a delightful study of Swift, Addison, Steele, Pope, and Goldsmith. (See Text.) 66 Charlotte Bronté (1816-1855). A novelist of rare gifts but of limited range. Her best work is “Jane Eyre" (1847). Her othe: works are Shirley" (1849), "Villette" (1853), and "The Professor," which was published after her death. Her novels are replete with autobiographic elements. (See Text.) George Eliot (1819-1880). An essayist, poet, and novelist of keen psychological power. Author of "The Mill on the Floss (1860), "Silas Marner" (1861), “Adam Bede" (1859), Romola " (1863), Middlemarch (1872), and "Daniel Deronda" (1876). The greatest of all women novelists. (See text.) POETRY. — Arthur Hugh Clough (1819-1861): “The Bothie of Tober-na-Vuolich " (1848) and “Depsychus" (1862). A poet of doubt, who "has neither the strength to believe nor the courage to disbelieve." Lord Lytton ("Owen Meredith ") (1831-1892). Statesman, novelist, and poet; author of the following poetical works: "Clytemnestra (1855), "The Wanderer (1859), "Lucile" (1860), "Fables in Song," and several others. William Morris (1834-1896). Novelist and poet. His principal poetical works are "The Defence of Guinevere" (1858), "The Life and Death of Jason" (1867), “The Earthly Paradise" (18681871), “Love is Enough" (1873). Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837-). Poet, dramatist, and critic; author of "Atalanta in Calydon: a Tragedy" (1865), "Poems and Ballads" (1866), “Siena: a Poem" (1868), "Songs Before Sunrise" (1871), "Poems and Ballads" (1878), "Songs of the Spring Tides" (1880), and many others. Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882). Artist and poet; author of "The Blessed Damozel" (1848), "Sister Helen" (1851), "Early Italian Poets" (1861), "Poems" (1870-1882). Rossetti, Swinburne, and Morris are the chief representatives of the romantic spirit in the poetry of the Victorian Age. Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861). A poetess of admirable gifts, wife of Robert Browning. - Author of "Sonnets from the Portuguese " -"the finest sonnets written in any language since Shakespeare "—" Aurora Leigh," (1856), a novel in verse, and of many excellent lyrics. (See Text.) 66 Matthew Arnold (1822-1888). A poet and essayist of refined taste and style. "Sohrab and Rustum" and Balder" are his chief narrative poems. Characteristic lyrics are “Resignation,” “ A Question," "The 'Future," "The Grande Chartreuse," "Human Life," "In Utrumque Paratus," etc. Among his prose works are 'Essays in Criticism," Culture and Anarchy,” “Literature and Dogma," and "Discourses in America," consisting of three lectures. (See Text.) 66 Henry Austin Dobson (1840-). Poet and critic; author of "Vignettes in Rhyme" (1873), "Proverbs in Porcelain" (1877), "At the Sign of the Lyre" (1885), etc. Andrew Lang (1844-). Poet and prose writer; author of "Ballads in Blue China" (1881), “Rhymes à la Mode" (1884), “Ballads of Books" (1888). Among his prose writings are "Custom and Myth" (1884) and "Myth, Ritual, and Religion" (1887). Edwin Arnold (1832-1904). Sanskrit scholar, editor, and poet; author of "The Light of Asia" (1878), “Pearls of the Faith" (1882), "The Song Celestial” (1885), and “The Light of the World" (1891). William Watson (1844-). Poet, and author of "The Prince's Quest" (1880), "Wordsworth's Grave, and Other Poems" (1889), and "Collected Poems" (1898). HISTORY. George Grote (1794-1871). Member of Parliament, an extreme Liberal in politics, and author of an excellent "History of Greece (1846-1856), and intended as an antidote to Mitford. Connop Thirlwall (1797-1875). Bishop of St. David's, and author of a History of Greece" (1835-1847), likewise written from a Liberal point of view. This work, as well as that by Grote, is standard. 66 Henry Hart Milman (1791-1868). Dean of St. Paul's, and author of a "History of the Jews" (1829), "History of Latin Christianity" (1854). In addition to his excellent histories, he edited Gibbon, and published a few poems. James A. Froude (1818-1894). Essayist and historian; author of a "History of England" (1856-1869), “The English in Ireland' (1871-1874), “Short Studies on Great Subjects" (1867), "Life of Carlyle" (1884). One of the most interesting of historians, but sometimes inaccurate. 66 66 Edwin Augustus Freeman (1823-1892). A voluminous historian; author of A History of Architecture (1849), History of the Saracens " (1856), “History of the Norman Conquest (18671879), "Growth of the English Constitution (1872), and many other works, all distinguished for careful statement. W. E. H. Lecky (1838-1903). Philosophic historian; author of "Leaders of Public Opinion in Ireland" (1861), “History of Rationalism in Europe" (1865), "History of European Morals (1869), and a "History of England in the Eighteenth Century" (1878-1890). 66 John Richard Green (1837-1883). Clergyman, and author of Short History of the English People" (1874), "History of the English People" (1878-1880), a work in four volumes, and "The Making of England" (1882). All are admirable works. Thomas Arnold (1795-1842). Clergyman, head-master of Rugby, and author of five volumes of sermons, an edition of Thucydides, and a "History of Rome" in three volumes. Sir Archibald Alison (1792-1867). Lawyer and historian; author of "History of Europe" (1839-1859), "Life of the Duke of Marlborough (1847), etc. His "History of Europe" is interesting rather than profound. SCIENCE AND PHILOSOPHY. Charles Darwin (1809-1882). Eminent naturalist; author of "Journal of Researches' (1839-1845), 66 Origin of Species" (1859), “Descent of Man" (1871), etc. His writings have exerted an immense influence on modern thought. Herbert Spencer (1820-1903). The ablest of evolutionist philosophers; author of "Principles of Psychology" (1855), “First Principles" (1862), "Principles of Biology" (1867), "Principles of Psychology" (1872), “The Study of Sociology" (1872), etc. Thomas Henry Huxley (1825-1895). Biologist, lecturer, and essayist; author of Oceanic Hydrozoa” (1859), “Man's Place in Nature (1863), "Lay Sermons ('1870), "Introduction to the Classification of Animals" (1877), Science, Culture, and Other Essays" (1882), etc. He has done much to popularize scientific knowledge. 66 66 66 John Stuart Mill (1806-1873). Editor, essayist, and philosopher; author of a 'System of Logic” (1843), “Political Economy' (1848), "Representative Government" (1860), “Subjection of Women" (1869), “Examination of Hamilton's Philosophy" (1865), etc. Sir William Hamilton (1788–1856). One of the ablest Scotch metaphysicians; author of "Discussions in Philosophy, Literature, and Education" (1853), "Lectures on Metaphysics and Logic," published after his death. Hugh Miller (1802-1856). Geologist and able writer; author of "Old Red Sandstone" (1841), "Footprints of the Creator," "My Schools and Schoolmasters," and "Testimony of the Rocks," the last being an attempt to reconcile geology and Genesis. John Ruskin (1819-1900). A versatile man of genius, who was an artist, art critic, author, lecturer, and reformer. Among his writings may be mentioned “ Praeterita,” a delightful autobiography, "Modern Painters' (1843-1860) in defense of the English artist Turner, "The King of the Golden River," a fine fairy tale, "The Seven Lamps of Architecture" (1849), "The Stones of Venice' (1851-1853), “Sesame and Lilies," the most popular of his works, and "The Crown of Wild Olive," consisting of three lectures. (See Text.) GREAT REPRESENTATIVE WRITERS. THOMAS BABINGTON MACAULAY. THOMAS CARLYLE. ALFRED TENNYSON. |