First Impression, April 1903 Reprinted in 1904, 1906, 1908 (twice), 1909, 1910, 1911 (twice), 1912 1915, 1917, 1918, 1919 (twice), 1921 and 1922. PRINTED IN ENGLAND 1-17-1928 میرے THE PREFACE purpose of this book is to provide in a convenient and inexpensive form a selection of some of the best English essays. While it is hoped that the volume will appeal to general readers, it should be observed that it is intended more especially for students who are preparing for examinations in which essay-writing is one of the prescribed subjects, and who are recommended to study the great masters of English prose, particularly the essayists, both for matter and form. In making the selection a liberal interpretation has been given to the term Essay, as will be seen by the inclusion of certain character sketches, and of one of Carlyle's lectures on 'Heroes'; and it should, perhaps, be added that there has been no attempt to observe any common standard of length in the specimens chosen. A chronological order of arrangement has been adopted, and the orthography, where necessary, has been conformed to that of the present time. The essayists represented range from Francis Bacon to Robert Louis Stevenson. |