A LITERARY UNDERTAKING.

Evening Star, Issue 11642, 31 August 1901, Page 8

A LITERARY UNDERTAKING.

The ' Library of Famous Literature,' which had such a large sale* in England last year through the London ' Standard,' il now available to residents of New Zealand. The work is in twenty volumes, and has been recently brought "out under the editorial direction of Dr Richard Garnett, C.8., late. Keeper of Printed Books in the British Museum. With him have, been associated prominent men of learning representing Germany, France, and America. The work contains selections from the world's great writers—ancient, medieval, and modern—with biographical and cxplanatoiy notes and critical essays by many eminent writers, and ranks as*a very encyclopedia, of literature. Our parents thought much of the volumes in which Charles Knight "avo his ' Half Hours with the Best Authors,' but his latest development of that work, admirable as that was, is as important by comparison as. say, the 'Dictionary of National Biography '■ is to the tentative biographical dictionaries wliich preceded it. The generous manner in which the idea of the 'Library of Famous Literature' has been received by authors may best be indicated by the fact that no fewer than 300 copyright works are "sampled" in its pages—for the editor's aim has been to represent the most recent as well as the most ancient in literature. A number of sets were reserved in London for distribution in New Zealand, and these are now available. The. supply is very limited, and only those who apply promptly will be enabled to profit by the very reasonable prices and easy terms that now prevail. 'The work is handsomely illustrated with colored and other engravings, and should appeal to all who love good books.