AN IMPORTANT LITERARY WORK.

Wanganui Chronicle, 15 August 1901, Page 2

AN IMPORTANT LITERARY WORK.

Rs.sldonls of-v2sew Zealand now have an jYj&ivrtunity to secure *»tWe ""Library of JlJipSpi* T iterature," ■which has recently through the enterprise of The Standard in London. This work, which is in 20 volumes, was compiled under the editorial direction of Dr. Richard Garnett. C.8., whose 50 years' connection with the British Museum —20 of which as Keeper of. Printed Books entitled Mm to undertake such work, by reason of the broad learning which he is well-known to possess. It would be quite possible to make a collection of exquisite literary productions, which would, however, but afford an inadequate and quite misleading conception of the distinctive spirit of a ; literature. An excellent selection might also be confined to the literature of a single country. But the projectors of the "Library of Famous Literature" have broken through these limitations. They have not been content with merely reproducing pieces whose classic mei-it has won for them a place in every autology.. Without excluding these, or derogating- in any way from a high standard of merit, they have sought to illustrate the characteristic expression of the literary spirit in all ages and in all countries. In a word, the "Library of Famous Literature" is one of the most remarkable contemporary examples of the cosmopolitan spirit which is beginning to pervade the civilised world ; rendering, without prejudice to individuality or nationality, all' countries, in a sense, but provinces of one common country. The success of this work in England hist year caused the publishers to arrange for the reservation of a certain portion of the edition for distribution in New Zealand. These are now available for those who appiy promptly. Both the low prices and easy terms of payment should recommend themselves to those who value good books.