Beacon Lights of History, Volume 13

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Beacon Lights of History,
Volume XIII, by

John Lord
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Title: Beacon Lights of History, Volume XIII
Author: John Lord
Release Date: January 8, 2004 [eBook #10648]
Language: English
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LIGHTS OF HISTORY, VOLUME XIII***
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LORD'S LECTURES
BEACON LIGHTS OF HISTORY, VOLUME XIII
GREAT WRITERS.
Dr Lord's Uncompleted Plan, Supplemented with Essays by Emerson,
Macaulay, Hedge, And Mercer Adam
BY JOHN LORD, LL.D.,
AUTHOR OF "THE OLD ROMAN WORLD," "MODERN
EUROPE," ETC., ETC.

PUBLISHERS' PREFACE.
This being the last possible volume in the series of "Beacon Lights of
History" from the pen of Dr. Lord, its readers will be interested to
know that it contains all the lectures that he had completed (although
not all that he had projected) for his review of certain of the chief Men
of Letters. Lectures on other topics were found among his papers, but
none that would perfectly fit into this scheme; and it was thought best
not to attempt any collection of his material which he himself had not
deemed worthy or appropriate for use in this series, which embodies
the best of his life's work,--all of his books and his lectures that he
wished to have preserved. For instance, "The Old Roman World,"
enlarged in scope and rewritten, is included in the volumes on "Old
Pagan Civilizations," "Ancient Achievements," and "Imperial
Antiquity;" much of his "Modern Europe" reappears in "Great Rulers,"
"Modern European Statesmen," and "European National Leaders," etc.
The consideration of "Great Writers" was reserved by Dr. Lord for his
final task,--a task interrupted by death and left unfinished. In order to
round out and complete this volume, recourse has been had to some
other masters in literary art, whose productions are added to Dr. Lord's
final writings.

In the present volume, therefore, are included the paper on
"Shakspeare" by Emerson, reprinted from his "Representative Men" by
permission of Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co., the authorized
publishers of Emerson's works; the famous essay on "Milton" by
Macaulay; the principal portion--biographical and generally critical--of
the article on "Goethe," from "Hours with the German Classics," by the
late Dr. Frederic H. Hedge, by permission of Messrs. Little, Brown &
Co., the publishers of that work; and a chapter on "Tennyson: the Spirit
of Modern Poetry," by G. Mercer Adam.
A certain advantage may accrue to the reader in finding these masters
side by side for comparison and for gauging Dr. Lord's unique
life-work by recognized standards, keeping well in view the purpose no
less than the perfection of these literary performances, all of which, like
those of Dr. Lord, were aimed at setting forth the services of selected
forces in the world's life.
NEW YORK, September 15, 1902.

CONTENTS.
ROUSSEAU.
SOCIALISM AND EDUCATION.
Jean Jacques Rousseau and Edmund Burke Rousseau representative of
his century Birth Education and early career; engraver, footman
Secretary, music teacher, and writer Meets Thérèse His first public
essay in literature Operetta and second essay Geneva; the Hermitage;
Madame d'Épinay. The "Nouvelle Héloïse;" Comtesse d'Houdetot
"Émile;" "The Social Contract" Books publicly burned; author flees
England; Hume; the "Confessions" Death, career reviewed Character of
Rousseau Essay on the Arts and Sciences "Origin of Human
Inequalities" "The Social Contract" "Émile" The "New Héloïse" The
"Confessions" Influence of Rousseau
SIR WALTER SCOTT.

THE MODERN NOVEL.
Scott and Byron Evanescence of literary fame Parentage of Scott Birth
and childhood Schooling and reading Becomes an advocate His friends
and pleasures Personal peculiarities Writing of poetry; first publication
Marriage and settlement "Scottish Minstrelsy" "Lay of the Last
Minstrel;" Ashestiel rented The Edinburgh Review: Jeffrey, Brougham,
Smith The Ballantynes "Marmion" Jeffrey as a critic Quarrels of author
and publishers; Quarterly Review Scott's poetry Duration of poetic
fame Clerk of Sessions; Abbotsford bought "Lord of the Isles;"
"Rokeby" Fiction; fame of great authors "Waverley" "Guy Mannering"
Great popularity of Scott "The Antiquary" "Old Mortality;"
comparisons "Rob Roy" Scotland's debt to Scott Prosperity; rank;
correspondence Personal habits Life at Abbotsford Chosen friends
Works issued in 1820-1825 Bankruptcy through failure of his
publishers Scott's noble character and action Works issued in
1825-1831 Illness and death Payment of his enormous debt Vast
pecuniary returns from his works
LORD BYRON.
POETIC GENIUS.
Difficulty of depicting Byron Descent; birth; lameness Schooling; early
reading habits College life Temperament and character First
publication of poems Savage criticism by Edinburgh Review "English
Bards and