Abbott, Charles Conrad, the author of the essay on “The Robin” (page 197), is an American writer and naturalist. He was born at Trenton, N. J., in 1843. He is an ardent lover of nature, and has written several delightful books on subjects relating to popular science and outdoor life. Among these are “Birdland Echoes,” from which the above-named essay is taken; “A Naturalist’s Wanderings about Home,” and “Waste Land Wanderings.”
Aytoun (ā´toon), William Edmonstoune, the author of the selection entitled “The Pass of Killiecrankie” (page 138), was a Scottish lawyer and poet. Born in Edinburgh, 1813; died, 1865. He was for many years one of the editors of “Blackwood’s Magazine.” He wrote “Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers,” “Ballads of Scotland,” and other poems.
Blackmore, Richard D., the author of “Lorna Doone,” is an English lawyer and novelist. Born in Berkshire, 1825. Besides “Lorna Doone,” he has written “Alice Lorraine,” “Springhaven,” “The Maid of Sker,” and several other stories.
Browning, Mrs. Elizabeth Barrett, the author of “The Romance of the Swan’s Nest” (page 98), was an English poet. Born in Durham, England, 1806. In 1846 she married Robert Browning, and during the rest of her life resided chiefly at Florence, Italy, where she died in 1861. She wrote “Prometheus Bound” (1833), “Aurora Leigh” (1857), and many shorter poems.
Bryant, William Cullen, the author of “The Death of the Flowers” (page 18), was one of the most popular of American poets. Born at Cummington, Mass., 1794; died at New York, 1878. Besides his poems, he wrote translations of Homer’s “Iliad” and “Odyssey,” and was for more than half a century one of the editors of “The Evening Post” (New York).
Buckley, Arabella Burton, is an English author and naturalist. Born at Brighton, England, 1840. She has written several books on scientific subjects for young readers: “The Fairy Land of Science,” from which our selection is taken (page 29), “Winners in Life’s Race,” and “Life and her Children.”
Campbell, Thomas: A British poet and critic. Born at Glasgow, Scotland, 1777; died, 1844. He wrote “The Pleasures of Hope,” “Hohenlinden,” “Lochiel’s Warning,” and many other well-known poems.
“Cloister and the Hearth, The”: An historical romance, by Charles Reade, first published in 1861. The scenes are laid mostly in Holland and Italy, and the time is the middle of the fifteenth century. See page 153.
Collier, W. F., author of the sketch on “Life in Norman England” (page 89), is an English historian. He has written “The History of the British Empire,” “A History of England,” and several other similar works.
Cowper, William: A celebrated English poet. Born, 1731; died, 1800. His principal work was “The Task,” from which our brief selection (page 196) has been taken. He wrote also “John Gilpin,” “Tirocinium,” and several other poems.
“David Copperfield, The Personal History of”: A novel, by Charles Dickens, first published in 1849. “Of all my books,” says Dickens, “I like this the best.” Many scenes in the novelist’s own life are depicted in this story. The character from whom the book took its name is a timid boy reduced to desperation by the cruelty of his stepfather, Mr. Murdstone. At ten years of age he is sent to a warehouse in London, where he was employed in rough work at a small salary. He finally runs away, and is protected and adopted by an eccentric maiden lady, Miss Betsey Trotwood. He becomes a writer, and marries a gentle, innocent little lady, whom he calls his “child wife”; she dies, and he afterwards marries a woman of stronger mind, named Agnes Wickfield. The selection which we give (page 121) is a fair example of the style which characterizes the story.
Dickens, Charles: The most popular of English novelists. Born, 1812; died, 1870. Wrote “The Pickwick Papers,” “Nicholas Nickleby,” “Oliver Twist,” “David Copperfield,” from which our story of “The Shipwreck” (page 121) has been taken, and numerous other works of fiction.
Drake, Joseph Rodman, author of “The American Flag” (page 206), was an American poet. Born at New York, 1795; died, 1820. His principal work was “The Culprit Fay,” written in 1816.
Everett, Edward: An American statesman and orator. Born at Boston, Mass., 1794; died, 1865. He was editor of the “North American Review,” member of Congress, Governor of Massachusetts, President of Harvard College, Secretary of State in the cabinet of Millard Fillmore, and United States Senator from Massachusetts. His orations and speeches fill four volumes.
Froude, James Anthony: A noted English historian. Born, 1818; died, 1894. His chief work was a “History of England from the Fall of Wolsey to the Defeat of the Spanish Armada.” He also wrote four volumes of “Short Studies on Great Subjects,” “Cæsar, a Sketch,” “Life of Lord Beaconsfield,” “Life of Carlyle,” etc.
Hemans, Mrs. Felicia: An English poet. Born at Liverpool, 1793; died, 1835. She wrote numerous short poems, which were at one time very popular. She is best remembered in this country as the author of “The Landing of the Pilgrims” (page 195), “Casabianca,” and similar pieces.
Hogg, James: A Scottish poet, often called from his occupation the Ettrick Shepherd. Born, 1770; died, 1835. Among his poems are “The Queen’s Wake” (1813), “The Pilgrims of the Sun” (1815), and many short pieces.
Howells, William Dean: An American novelist and poet. Born at Martinsville, Ohio, 1837. He was for ten years editor of the “Atlantic Monthly.” He has written numerous novels, several short comedies or farces, and a volume of poetry. Our selection is from one of his latest works, “Stories of Ohio,” a series of sketches relating to the settlement and early history of that commonwealth.
Hunt, James Henry Leigh, author of the poem entitled “The Glove and the Lions” (page 119), was an English essayist and poet. Born, 1784; died, 1859. His chief poem is “The Story of Rimini”; his principal prose works are “Life of Lord Byron” (1828), and “Autobiography” (1850).
“Idylls of the King”: The first part of this noble poem by Lord Tennyson appeared in 1859, and the remaining parts were issued at various intervals until its completion. It comprises twelve books, or poems, which should be read in the following order: “The Coming of Arthur,” “Gareth and Lynette,” “The Marriage of Geraint,” “Geraint and Enid,” “Balin and Balan,” “Merlin and Vivien,” “Lancelot and Elaine,” “The Holy Grail,” “Pelleas and Etarre,” “The Last Tournament,” “Guinevere,” “The Passing of Arthur.” Taken together in this order, these various poems present a complete and connected history of King Arthur and his knights. See page 216.
Ingelow (in´je lō), Jean: An English poet and novelist. Born at Boston, Lincolnshire, 1830; died, 1897. Wrote “Off the Skelligs,” “Fated to be Free,” “A Motto Changed,” several children’s books, and numerous poems.
Irving, Washington: An eminent American writer. Born, 1783; died, 1859. His principal works are “Columbus and his Companions” (from which the extract beginning on page 25 is taken), “The Sketch Book,” “Tales of a Traveler” (1824), “The Conquest of Granada” (1829), “The Alhambra” (1832), “Oliver Goldsmith” (1849), “Mahomet and His Successors” (1850), “Life of George Washington” (1859).
“Job, The Book of”: One of the books of the Old Testament, the authorship of which is unknown, but has been ascribed to various persons and periods of time. It is doubtless one of the oldest literary productions in our possession, and may be described as a poetic drama, having a didactic purpose. The hero of the book is Job, a man of great wealth and prosperity, who has been suddenly overtaken by misfortune. The great literary merit of the work is recognized by all scholars.
Johnson, Dr. Samuel: An eminent English essayist, poet, and lexicographer. Born, 1709; died, 1784. For his biography, see Macaulay’s essay on his life and works in “School Reading by Grades—Seventh Year.”
Jonson, Ben: A celebrated English poet and dramatist. Born, 1573; died, 1637. Among his plays are “Every Man in his Humour” (1598), “Cynthia’s Revels” (1600), “The Alchemist” (1610), etc.
Kingsley, Charles: An eminent English author and clergyman. See Biographical Notes in “School Reading by Grades—Fifth Year.”
“Lays of Ancient Rome”: A volume of poems written by Lord Macaulay and first published in 1842. It includes “Horatius” (see page 32), “The Battle of Lake Regillus,” “Virginia,” and “The Prophecy of Capys.”
Lewes (lū´es), George Henry: An English philosophical and miscellaneous writer. Born at London, 1817; died, 1878. He wrote “Seaside Studies” (1858), “Studies in Animal Life” (1862), “Problems of Life and Mind” (1874), and many other works on scientific and philosophical subjects.
Lincoln, Abraham: The sixteenth President of the United States. Born in Kentucky, 1809; died at Washington, D. C., 1865. The “Address at Gettysburg” (page 205) is generally conceded to be one of the noblest examples of oratory produced in modern times.
“Lorna Doone: a Romance of Exmoor.” First published in 1869. See page 64.
“Mexico, History of the Conquest of,” by William H. Prescott (see page 104), was first published in 1843. Other works relating to the same event are “The Spanish Conquest in America,” by Sir Arthur Helps, “The Fair God” (a romance) by General Lew Wallace.
Prescott, William Hickling: An eminent American historian. Born at Salem, Mass., 1796; died, 1859. His principal works are “History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella” (1838), “Conquest of Mexico” (see note above), “Conquest of Peru” (1847), “History of Philip II” (1858).
Reade, Charles: A noted English barrister and novelist. Born in Oxfordshire, 1814; died, 1884. His novels are very numerous, but the best is “The Cloister and the Hearth,” from which our selection is taken (page 153). Several of his writings are noted for their strong opposition to social evils.
Scott, Sir Walter. See Biographical Notes in “School Reading by Grades—Fifth Year.”
Stanley, Arthur Penrhyn: An English divine and historian. Born, 1815; died, 1881. He traveled in Egypt and Palestine in 1852–53; wrote “Sinai and Palestine” (1856), “Memorials of Canterbury” (1855), “History of the Jewish Church” (1865), etc.
Stockton, Frank Richard: A noted American author and humorist. Born at Philadelphia, 1834. He has written “Rudder Grange,” “The Clocks of Rondaine,” “Pomona’s Travels,” “Stories of New Jersey,” and many other works, including several books for children.
“Tales of a Grandfather”: A collection of historical stories, by Sir Walter Scott, first published in four series, 1827–30. See page 66.
Tennyson, Alfred. See Biographical Notes in “School Reading by Grades—Fifth Year.”
Tyndall, John: An eminent British scientist. Born in Ireland, 1820; died in England, 1893. Among his works are “The Forms of Water in Clouds and Rivers” (1873) from which our extract is selected (page 202), “Hours of Exercise in the Alps” (1871), “Fragments of Science” (1892), and many other works of a similar character.
“Westward Ho! or the Voyages and Adventures of Sir Amyas Leigh”: A novel by Charles Kingsley, first published in 1855. See page 165.
Winthrop, Robert Charles: An American statesman and orator. Born at Boston, 1809; died, 1894. His most famous addresses were delivered at the laying of the corner-stone of the Washington Monument, 1848, and at the completion of the same monument, 1885.
White, Gilbert: An English clergyman and naturalist, famous as the author of “Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne” (1789). He was born at Selborne, 1720; died there, 1793.
Yonge (yung), Charlotte Mary: An English writer and novelist. Born at Otterbourne, 1823. She has written more than a hundred volumes, including, “The Heir of Redclyffe,” “Daisy Chain,” “Landmarks of History,” and “A Book of Golden Deeds,” from which the selection beginning on page 208 is taken.
