7. Domitia: S. Baring-Gould, (1898)
8. A Friend of Caesar: William Stearns Davis, (1900)
9. Vergilius, a Tale of the Coming of Christ: Irving Bacheller, (1904)
10. Veranilda: George Gissing, (1904)
11. Andivius Hedulio: Edward Lucas White, (1921)
12. Pan and the Twins: Eden Philpotts, (1922)
These twelve novels are of permanent value. None of them are either obsolete or obsolescent. But for the benefit of those who raise the cry: “Of what practical good is anything which does not satisfy the present popular taste?” I wish to make an interesting comparison. After deciding upon the above list of twelve novels, I came upon A Classified List of the Best Modern Novels that are in ACTIVE USE in the Public Libraries of the United States. This was compiled with infinite pains by Mr. William Alanson Borden, not with any scholarly purpose, but with a view to ascertaining what novels were most read. While his list of novels of Roman life stops at the year 1910, it can be seen that it closely corresponds with the one I have just given. His list of novels of Roman life, written in English, is as follows:
The Last Days of Pompeii: Bulwer
Hypatia: Charles Kingsley (given under “Alexandria,” not “Rome”)
Ben Hur: Lew Wallace