A Book of English Essays (1600-1900)In selecting the following Essays we have been guided by a desire to secure variety, not only in the outlook and equipment of our authors, but also in the subjects by which we have chosen to represent them. It was our object to set before the reader a rich and entertaining banquet rather than to make a bid for the critic's recognition of the supreme merits of each dish. In other words, we have wanted the essays chosen to differ from one another as widely and in as great a variety of ways as was compatible with the resolution to maintain a high level of excellence throughout the book. |
