THE AGE OF POPE
"A 'handbook' is scarcely a fair description of so readable and companionable a volume, which aims not only at giving accurate information, but at directing the reader's steps 'through a country exhaustless in variety and interest.'"—Spectator.
"The biographical portion of Mr. Dennis's book is really admirable. The accuracy of the details and the knowledge exhibited by the author of the social and political life of the period show how thoroughly he has mastered his subject."—Westminster Review.
"Mr. Dennis writes freely and simply, and with a thorough knowledge of the period with which he deals, and goes straight to the point without revelling in circumambient fancies. The result of this is that in 250 pages of good print we have as concise a history of Queen Anne literature as we could wish."—Cambridge Review.
"An excellent little volume."—Athenæum.
THE AGE OF SHAKESPEARE
"Both volumes are excellently done, with knowledge, judgement, and a pleasant touch of vivacity. It is no easy matter to make a text-book both informing and readable; but here the feat is accomplished. I have read 'The Age of Shakespeare' with unflagging interest and pleasure.... Everywhere one has the restful sensation of dealing with men of competent scholarship and sound critical instinct. Especially valuable, to my thinking, is the chronological table of the chief publications of each year from 1579 to 1630."—Mr. William Archer in the Morning Leader.
"These two volumes are, in short, a notable accession to the useful series to which they belong, and they constitute a luminous aid to the interpretation alike of the scope and quality of the literary activity which has rendered the 'Age of Shakespeare' classic in the annals of English literature."—Standard.
"The book is a well-informed and well-connected and intelligent exposition of its subject. It is more than a mere handbook. It is a history, though on a small scale."—Journal of Education.
THE AGE OF MILTON
"A very readable and serviceable manual of English literature during the central years of the seventeenth century."—Glasgow Herald.
"Mr. Masterman has written a book which combines the preciseness of a text-book with the fullness of thought of a monograph. Indeed, this compact little work will be studied with as much earnestness by the student as it will be read with pleasure by the lover of belles lettres.... We lay down the book delighted with what we have read."—Birmingham Daily Gazette.
"A work which reflects the utmost credit on its author ... luminous and at the same time impartial."—Westminster Review.
"This excellent epitome ... very happily indicates the golden afterglow of the Elizabethan sun."—Daily Chronicle.
THE AGE OF JOHNSON
"The uniform excellence of Mr. Seccombe's manual of English literary history from 1748 to 1798 affords scarcely any opening for detailed criticism. Little can be said, except that everything is just as it ought to be: the arrangement perfect, the length of the notices justly proportioned, the literary judgements sound and illuminating; while the main purpose of conveying information is kept so steadily in view that, while the book is worthy of a place in the library, the student could desire no better guide for an examination."—Bookman.
"He has knowledge, he is eminently careful, and, best of all in a handbook-maker of this kind, he is judicial. We like Mr. Seccombe's arrangement. There is a capital introduction, solid and grave rather than brilliant, on which the student may stand in confidence before he dives off into the stream of his tutor's survey. Briefly, we have here a thorough, almost encyclopaedic, review of a great literary period—stimulating to the younger student, and to his elder refreshing by its perception."—Outlook.
"This book is one of the best of its kind, and we heartily recommend it to our readers."—Journal of Education.
"The young student could not read a better book to get a comprehensive and yet detailed account of the literary history of the latter half of the eighteenth century."—Morning Post.
THE AGE OF WORDSWORTH
"It is an admirable little work all the way through and one which the ripest students of the period may read with interest and profit."—Guardian.
"The desiderated text-book of the period 1798 to 1830 A.D. is no longer to seek. More than that, it has been written by the one Englishman most competent to deal with it. Whatever Professor Herford does he does well; but he has given us nothing at once so good and so helpful as this book."—University Correspondent.
"The introductory essay on Romanticism in our literature is an admirable piece of work, full of suggestive thought, but Professor Herford is at his best—and a very fine best it is—in his brief summaries of the lives and works of individual writers. His Cobbett, his Lamb, and others that might be instanced, are veritable gems of biographical and critical compression presented with true literary finish."—Literary World.
"A book which is remarkable for freshness and distinction of style, philosophic grasp of first principles, and critical insight.... When we add that the book is also conspicuous for delicacy of literary appreciation and ripe judgement, both of men and movements, we have said enough to show that we consider its claims are unusual."—Speaker.
THE AGE OF TENNYSON
"A capital little handbook of modern English literature."—Times.
"An instructive and readable manual ... an admirable first text-book on the subject."—Scotsman.
"Professor Walker has done his allotted task with singular skill, wonderful judiciousness, critical insight, adequate knowledge and mastery of facts, keen discernment of qualities and effectiveness of grouping.... We have read no review of the whole of the Tennysonian age so genuinely fresh in matter, method, style, critical canons, and selectedness of phrase. As a small book on a great subject, it is a special treasure."—Educational News.
Uniform with the Handbooks of English Literature.
Fourth Edition Enlarged. 725 pages. Small Crown 8vo. 6s. net.