The following suggestions will help children to pursue their favourite lines of reading. They may like to begin with the heroes of myth and history. Andrew Lang contributes a most comprehensive article on Mythology (Vol. 19, p. 128). The classified subject-list in Vol. 29 (Index) indicates nearly 500 separate articles on the gods and mythological beings of ancient Greece and Rome, Asia, Egypt, Europe and America. The central hero of medieval romance, Arthur (Vol. 2, p. 681), is described by Miss Jessie L. Weston, author of Arthurian Romances. The famous deeds of the Cid (Vol. 6, p. 361), the foremost man of Spain’s heroic period, are related by H. E. Watts, the well-known translator of Don Quixote. Roland, Legend of (Vol. 23, p. 464), tells another stirring story.
Heroes and Heroines of History, Romance and Adventure
The Romance of the Middle Ages
Heroes of Later Times
Famous Women of History
Of peculiar interest to children are such articles as Cyrus (The Great), (Vol. 7, p. 706), by Dr. Eduard Meyer, professor of ancient history, University of Berlin, author of the world-famous History of Antiquity; Alexander III (The Great), (Vol. 1, p. 545), by the noted Hellenist, Edwyn R. Bevan; Caesar, Julius (Vol. 4, p. 938), by Henry Stuart Jones, of Oxford University; Hannibal (Vol. 12, p. 920), by M. O. B. Caspari, of London University; Theodoric (Vol. 26, p. 768), the great ruler of the Gothic nation, by Theodore Hodgkin, author of Italy and her Invaders; Charlemagne, founder of the Holy Roman Empire (Vol. 5, p. 891), by Arthur W. Holland; Charles Martel (Vol. 5, p. 942), a great type of courage and activity, by Christian Pfister, professor at the Sorbonne, Paris; Alfred the Great (Vol. 1, p. 582), by Rev. Charles Plummer, author of The Life and Times of Alfred the Great; Crusades (Vol. 7, p. 524), by Ernest Barker, of Oxford University, a narrative with all the action and interest of the best tales for children; Templars (Vol. 26, p. 591), by W. Alison Phillips, author of Modern Europe, etc.; Louis IX (Saint) (Vol. 17, p. 37), by Prof. James T. Shotwell, of Columbia University; Conradin (Vol. 6, p. 968), the pathetic life of this marvelous boy who perished at the age of seventeen; Hundred Years’ War (Vol. 13, p. 893), by Jules Viard, archivist of the National Archives, Paris; Froissart, Jean (Vol. 11, p. 242), a notable biography, by Sir Walter Besant; Charles V (Vol. 5, p. 899), by Edward Armstrong, author of The Emperor Charles V, etc.; Cromwell, Oliver (Vol. 7, p. 487), by Philip Chesney Yorke, of Oxford, Capt. C. F. Atkinson, and R. J. McNeill; Gustavus Adolphus (Vol. 12, p. 735), by R. Nisbet Bain, author of Scandinavia, etc.; Marlborough (Vol. 17, p. 737), by Dr. W. P. Courtney; Frederick II (The Great) (Vol. 11, p. 52), by James Sime, author of History of Germany, and W. Alison Phillips; Napoleon I (Vol. 19, p. 190), by J. Holland Rose; Nelson (Vol. 19, p. 352), by David Hannay, author of Short History of the Royal Navy; Wellington (Vol. 28, p. 507); Washington, George (Vol. 28, p. 344), by Dr. William MacDonald, professor of American History in Brown University; Lincoln, Abraham (Vol. 16, p. 703), by John G. Nicolay, private secretary to President Lincoln, and Charles C. Whinery, assistant editor of the Encyclopaedia Britannica; Grant, Ulysses S. (Vol. 12, p. 355), by Capt. C. F. Atkinson, and John Fiske, author of The American Revolution; Lee, Robert E. (Vol. 16, p. 362); Boadicea (Vol. 4, p. 94), by Dr. F. J. Haverfield, professor of ancient history, Oxford University; Matilda (The Great Countess) (Vol. 17, p. 888), by Prof. Carlton H. Hayes, of Columbia University; Joan of Arc (Vol. 15, p. 420), by Prof. J. T. Shotwell, of Columbia University; Isabella (Vol. 14, p. 859); Elizabeth, Queen of England (Vol. 9, p. 282), by A. F. Pollard, professor of English history, London University; Mary, Queen of Scots (Vol. 17, p. 817), by Algernon C. Swinburne, the great poet, author of Mary Stuart, etc.; Catherine de’ Medici (Vol. 5, p. 528); Victoria, Queen (Vol. 28, p. 28), by Hugh Chisholm, editor, Encyclopaedia Britannica.
The biographies are not dry outlines of the subjects’ lives, but narratives of a thoroughly interesting and often most entertaining nature. There has been a generous amount of space alloted the biographical articles in the Encyclopaedia Britannica. The article on Napoleon I is equivalent to 60 pages of this Guide; that of George Washington to 13 pages; of Abraham Lincoln to 23 pages; of Queen Victoria 23 pages. Such length provides space for the picturesque details which make the articles especially appropriate for children, and will establish a taste for this kind of reading in later years.
Readings in Natural History
Many children show a bent for knowledge of the world of nature, and to them the new Britannica will prove a faithful, constant companion. Their pleasure in going to the encyclopaedia will be heightened by the many beautiful pictures they will find in it. The articles on the domestic animals not only relate in simple, readable fashion the very interesting facts about their history and development, but are splendidly illustrated with pictures of the different breeds so that by this means alone anyone may learn to distinguish them. Cat (Vol. 5, p. 487), is by Richard Lydekker, the noted naturalist; Cattle (Vol. 5, p. 539) is by Dr. William Fream, author of Handbook of Agriculture, and Robert Wallace, professor of agriculture, Edinburgh University; Dog (Vol. 8, p. 374) is by Walter Baxendale, kennel editor of The Field, and Dr. F. Chalmers Mitchell; Horse (Vol. 13, p. 712) is by Sir William Henry Flower, the noted biologist, author of The Horse, a Study in Natural History, Richard Lydekker, E. D. Brickwood, Dr. William Fream and Robert Wallace; Pig (Vol. 21, p. 594) is by Robert Wallace, and Sheep (Vol. 24, p. 817) is by Dr. Fream and Professor Wallace.
In too many books for children about the habits of wild animals, the facts of nature are grossly distorted with the idea of impressing the imagination. We are all familiar with the recent spirited controversy over “nature fakers” and the reaction to more sober statement which it brought about. It is the truth about the animal world that is wanted; for it is quite wonderful and fascinating enough as it is. And the new Britannica supplies this need in a most satisfactory and thorough manner. Children never tire of natural history, and parents may be assured that the information in the entertaining articles by noted naturalists, in the pages of the Britannica, is of the most reliable and accurate character.