AN IMPORTANT LITERARY WORK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 186, 17 August 1901, Page 2

AN IMPORTANT LITERARY WORK.

Residents of New Zealand now have an opportunity to secure the " Library of Famous Literature," which has recently met with such success through the enterprise of The Standard in London. This work, which is in 20 volumes, was compiled under the editorial direction of Dr. Eichard Garnett, 0.8., whose 50 years' connection with the British Museum—2o of which as Keeper of Printed Books entitle him to undertake such a 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 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 those limitations. They have not been content with merely reproducing pieces whose classic merit has won for them a place in every anthology. 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 I countries, in a sense, but provinces of , one common country.

The success of this work in England last year caused the publishers to arrange for the reservation of a certain portion of the edition for distribution in New Zealand. These are nowavailable for those who apply promptly. Both the low price and easy terms of payment should recommend themselves to those who value good books.