"THE LIBRARY OF FAMOUS LITERATURE."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11745, 29 August 1901, Page 3

"THE LIBRARY OF FAMOUS LITERATURE."

Many attempts have been made to select the " hundred best books," but all these efforts have been eclipsed by the enterprise of the London Standard in compiling and issuing the greatest anthology in the world, consisting of 20 large handsome volumes comprising representative selections of the best literature of all ages and all countries; The work is edited by Dr. Richard Garnett, C.8., of the British Museum, who probably knows more about the books of the world than any other man. With him are associated as assistant editors M. Leon Valee, librarian of the Bibliotheque National, Paris; Dr. Alois Brandl, Professor of Literature in the Imperial University, Berlin; and Mr. Donald G. Mitchell, as representing the United States. Besides the letterpress, amounting to about 10,000 royal octavo pages*, there are nearly 500 full-page illustrations and coloured plates scattered throughout the work. The work is handsomely printed on fine paper, in clear, large type, and bound in different styles, which will be found specified in our advertising columns. Each volume is prefaced by original essays written by distinguished men of letters, and the special illustrations include portraits of famous writers, their homes and haunts, scenes of historical and literary interest, portraits of celebrated authors in their studies and work, and a remarkable series of rare and curious coloured plates. There are two exhaustive indices, general and topical, containing 10,000 entries and cross references. There are also concise biographies of all great writers, forming an admirable dictionary of national biography. 'Amongst the contents of the library are 300 of the finest poems of the English language, and translations from the classics of foreign tongues, and a larger number of choice stories illustrating the art of fiction from almost every known tongue, together with the best of English and foreign works of history, criticism, science, travel, biography, and adventure. This great work may now be se- , cured in Now Zealand upon terms as favour- j able as those offered in England.