CONSTABLE'S MISCELLANY OF FOREIGN LITERATURE. FOR Our supply of the comforts and luxuries of life, we lay the world under contribution: fresh from every quarter of the globe we draw a portion of its yearly produce. The field of literature is well-nigh as broad as that of commerce; as rich and varied in its annual fruits; and, if gleaned carefully, might furnish to our higher tastes as large an annual ministry of enjoyment. Believing that a sufficient demand exists to warrant the enterprise, THOMAS CONSTABLE & Co. propose to present to the British public a Series of the most popular accessions which the literature of the globe is constantly receiving. Europe alone,-its more northern and eastern lands especially,-offers to the hand of the selector most inviting and abundant fruits; Asia may supply a few rarer exotics; whilst in America the fields are whitening to a harvest into which many a hasty sickle has been already thrust, and from which many a rich sheaf may be hereafter gathered. Fully aware of the extent and difficulty of such an effort, the Publishers will spare no pains to make the execution of their undertaking commensurate with its high aim. They have already opened channels of communication with various countries, and secured the aid of those who are minutely acquainted with their current literature; and they take this opportunity of stating, that even where no legal copyright in this country can be claimed by the author or publisher of a work of which they may avail themselves, an equitable share of any profit which may arise from its sale will be set aside for his advantage. The Series will be made as varied as possible, that there may be something in it to suit the tastes of all who seek instruction or healthful recreation for the mind,—and its range will therefore be as extensive as the field of Literature itself: while, at the same time, it shall be the endeavour of its editors to select, for the most part, works of general or universal interest. The Publishers are unable to state the exact periods at which their MISCELLANY OF FOREIGN LITERATURE will appear, but they believe that the number of volumes issued during the first year will not exceed six; so that taking the average price per volume as Three Shillings and Sixpence, the cost to Subscribers would not exceed One Guinea; while, by the addition of a special title-page for each work issued, those persons who may wish to select an occasional publication will be saved the awkwardness of placing in their library a volume or volumes evidently detached from a continuous Series. LONDON: HAMILTON, ADAMS, & Co. DUBLIN: JAMES M'GLASHAN. AND ALL BOOKSELLERS. "Jokai is a highly popular Hungarian author, and this is the finest specimen of his works that has appeared in English."-Athenæum. "The first volume is a capital beginning, for M. Jokai stands well in his own country as a popular writer, and is very happy in depicting those details and peculiarities of life and character which not only give the charm of truthfulness, but are very instructive to a foreign reader."-Atlas. "If future volumes be as interesting, this Miscellany of Foreign Literature will become one of the most attractive publications of the day."-Bell's Weekly Messenger. "Most vivid and truthful descriptions of Hungarian life.”—Leader. "Not only amusing, but in the best sense of the word instructive."-Daily News. "Jokai is indeed a thoroughly national writer, and we cannot wonder, therefore, that his stories are popular amongst his countrymen. His descriptions are specially good, abounding, as they do, with genial humour, quick perception, and lively fancy."-Edinburgh Guardian. "We heartily wish success to the Messrs. Constable's new venture. They have begun admirably with a first-rate work, full of amusement and novelty, splendidly printed and convenient in size."-Church and State Gazette. "The chef d'œuvre of one of the most popular writers of fiction in Hungary. The volume contains delineations of Hungarian life among the middle class, nobility, and even the Hungarian peasant, who is no less attractive in his way, is painted with faithful accuracy."-Britannia. "Jokai has a quick eye for characteristics and contrasts, in both natural scenery and human life,-possesses, too, a very strong sense of beauty, much simple feeling, and abounding humour and spirit."-Nonconformist. "We hail the present volume as a veritable treasure of information, instruction, rich description, attractive incident, and picture writing, not to be surpassed in the range of modern literature."-Banner of Ulster. "The Hungarian romancist resembles Washington Irving in his style, and were one of the most characteristic of these Sketches introduced into Geoffrey Crayon's Sketch-Book, it would be deemed perfectly homogeneous with its other contents.”—Dumfries Standard. "This volume is a good beginning. M. Jokai's Sketches are a genuine literary outgrowth, and not compositions got up to subserve the ends of party. Nevertheless they bear openly the broad stamp of the national character."-Northampton Herald. "A patriot writes about his country, pictures to us the manners of his countrymen, and writes gloriously and well about their heroism and their sufferings. It is a capital book, and has our ready commendation."-Hastings News. "Jokai is the Washington Irving of Hungary. The Sketches here published abound in quaint and quiet humour, admirable portrait painting, and graphic descriptions of external nature and whimsical incident."-Stirling Observer. "Some of the Tales are full of fearful interest, while others teem with domestic incidents and anecdotes, which paint in simple and forcible characters the habits and manners of the people from among whom they are drawn."-Portsmouth Guardian. CONSTABLE'S MISCELLANY OF FOREIGN LITERATURE. II. Cloth, price 2s. 6d., ATHENS AND THE PELOPONNESE, WITH SKETCHES OF NORTHERN GREECE. BY HERMANN HETTNER. "The work of a most able and thoughtful man."-Examiner. "If the Miscellany of Foreign Literature' contains a succession of volumes of the kind and quality of those with which it has commenced, it will prove a welcome addition to many a library."-Literary Gazette. "The student who wishes to get an idea of what the more celebrated cities and temples of Greece were, and what they are now, should go carefully through this volume with a map..... It forms the second volume of Constable's Miscellany of Foreign Literature: a series which will be valuable both to the public and proprietors, if it include many such works as this."-Spectator. "Hettner is a scholar, an historian, an archæologist, and an artist, and in a series of letters or pages from a Diary, written in 1852, he tells us a sad story, in flowing and elegant language, and with an enthusiasm which proves his relish for the work."-Globe. 'Everywhere he shews himself to be an accomplished scholar and true artist, as well as an able writer. A more readable or instructive volume of Travels in Greece we have never seen."-Morning Post. "The impressions of the author as here recorded, display thorough classical knowledge, an enthusiastic appreciation of ancient art, and such powers of graphic delineation as enable his readers almost to survey for themselves the wonders of the Acropolis."-Glasgow Constitutional. "This volume has merit of a substantial order, in its vivid and minute delineations of all those monuments of the Grecian antique which have excited the astonishment and admiration of the world, and in its close and careful examination of every spot sanctified to the memory of heroes, philosophers, and poets."-Banner of Ulster. "What is lacking in the stirring incident of travel is, to our thinking at least, amply compensated for by the amount of information which the author's familiarity with classic history has enabled him to supply."-Scottish Press. "A very praiseworthy little book, earnestly and intelligently written, containing severa pleasant sketches of manners in modern Greece, and much useful antiquarian information, which is clearly and unaffectedly imparted to the reader."-Leader. Evidently the production of one who has taken his own line, and not relied upon the statements and estimates of others in describing the land and the people which he has visited."-English Churchman. A book of travel of a superior class, which is not only worth reading, but worth keeping for future reference. . . . The able and enterprising firm who have issued this volume are keeping well their promise of a good Foreign Miscellany,' by producing works that deserve success."-Atlas. "Fresh and delicate sketches of Greece. . . . . The volume is principally devoted to delineations of the scenery, the relics, and the picturesque life of the old classical region."— Athenæum. "Herr Hettner visited Greece neither as a pleasure tourist nor as a political observer, but as a student of her art. The spirit of the classical scholar and feeling of the love of art combined to direct his steps, and prevail in his volume."-Nonconformist. "Hermann Hettner is a well-informed and clever man, and whether he writes upon the colouring of ancient temples or on the present commercial and political relations of Greece, writes in a manner to command attention."-Guardian. "Hendrik Conscience is, we believe, an author of no small repute among his countrymen, indeed, from the popular nature of his works, and the skill with which he hits off peculiarities of character, we should judge him to occupy that place among Flemish litterateurs which we assign to Dickens."-Church and State Gazette. "We shall look with a new curiosity at those fine old Flemish towns when next we visit them, and perhaps rest there for a day or two, inspired by the memories of the delightful book before us-a book which is to be enjoyed most by the Christmas fire, and which should be read aloud to the family circle, whom it will entrance while it is heard and improve when it is remembered."-Critic. "Hendrik Conscience is a man of genius, has the soul of a true poet, though he does not write in the recognised forms of poetry. His fine instincts, his exquisite sensibility, his deep perception of character, are evidenced by these tales, and the union of these qualities with high creative power, has given to each of the stories the thrill and warmth of life, and the distinctness of a true individuality."-Nonconformist. "The work consists of four tales, all of them of high merit, but especially the first named, than which we have not perused a better, either in conception or execution, for a considerable time. They are told ably and genially, and present us with stirring illustrations of Flemish life, in a variety of its most characteristic phases."-Caledonian Mercury. "M. Conscience has exhibited too much pleasant nationality to be confounded among those whose stories are forgotten as soon as read. Not merely as being one of a select class, but also as standing alone among his countrymen, does M. Conscience deserve to be rated highly."-Athenæum. "M. Conscience, by his very introduction, wins the mind and heart, and provokes on the part of the reader an ardent desire to be made more fully acquainted with the products of his genius."-Banner of Ulster. "The most characteristic qualities of the author are exhibited in these interesting tales of Flemish life. These are, his perfect fidelity to human nature, his simple and genuine pathos, his deep but unobtrusive sense of religion, and his quiet but effective humour."— Edinburgh Guardian. "The present volume exhibits all the characteristics of the author,-his ardent patriotism, his deep sensibility, his enthusiasm, his pathos, grace, and humour, and power in the description of nature under the various aspects in which she may be seen on the wild heaths and among the rich pasture-lands of Flanders.”—Edinburgh Advertiser. "In tales of social and domestic life, a skilful writer, while affording amusement, can agreeably convey information, and this is done in the present case."—Literary Gazette. EDINBURGH: THOMAS CONSTABLE & CO. LONDON: HAMILTON, ADAMS, & CO. DUBLIN: JAMES M'GLASHAN. |