Hallecks New English Literature

Halleck's New English Literature

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Title: Halleck's New English Literature
Author: Reuben P. Halleck
Release Date: January 8, 2004 [EBook #10631]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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HALLECKS'S NEW ENGLISH LITERATURE
by REUBEN POST HALLECK, M.A., LL.D.
Author of "History of English Literature" and "History of American
Literature"
PREFACE
In this New English Literature the author endeavors to preserve the
qualities that have caused his former History of English Literature to be
so widely used; namely, suggestiveness, clearness, organic unity,
interest, and the power to awaken thought and to stimulate the student
to further reading.

The book furnishes a concise account of the history and growth of
English literature from the earliest times to the present day. It lays
special emphasis on literary movements, on the essential qualities that
differentiate one period from another, and on the spirit that animates
each age. Above all, the constant purpose has been to arouse in the
student an enthusiastic desire to read the works of the authors discussed.
Because of the author's belief in the guide-book function of a history of
literature, he has spent much time and thought in preparing the
unusually detailed Suggested Readings that follow each chapter.
It was necessary for several reasons to prepare a new book. Twentieth
century research has transformed the knowledge of the Elizabethan
theater and has brought to light important new facts relating to the
drama and to Shakespeare. The new social spirit has changed the
critical viewpoint concerning authors as different as Wordsworth, Keats,
Ruskin, Dickens, and Tennyson. Wordsworth's treatment of childhood,
for instance, now requires an amount of space that would a short time
ago have seemed disproportionate. Later Victorian writers, like
Meredith, Hardy, Swinburne, and Kipling, can no longer be accorded
the usual brief perfunctory treatment. Increased modern interest in
contemporary life is also demanding some account of the literature
already produced by the twentieth century. An entire chapter is devoted
to showing how this new literature reveals the thought and ideals of this
generation.
Other special features of this new work are the suggestions and
references for a literary trip through England, the historical
introductions to the chapters, the careful treatment of the modern drama,
the latest bibliography, and the new illustrations, some of which have
been specially drawn for this work, while others have been taken from
original paintings in the National Portrait Gallery, London, and
elsewhere. The illustrations are the result of much individual research
by the author during his travels in England.
The greater part of this book was gradually fashioned in the classroom,
during the long period that the author has taught this subject.
Experience with his classes has proved to him the reasonableness of the
modern demand that a textbook shall be definite and stimulating.
The author desires to thank the large number of teachers who have
aided him by their criticism. Miss Elizabeth Howard Spaulding and

Miss Sarah E. Simons deserve special mention for valuable assistance.
The entire treatment of Rudyard Kipling is the work of Miss Mary
Brown Humphrey. The greater part of the chapter, _Twentieth-Century
Literature_, was prepared by Miss Anna Blanche McGill. Some of the
best and most difficult parts of the book were written by the author's
wife. R.P.H.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION--LITERARY ENGLAND

CHAPTERS
:
I. FROM 449 A.D. TO THE NORMAN CONQUEST, 1066
II. FROM THE NORMAN CONQUEST, 1066, TO CHAUCER'S
DEATH 1400
III. FROM CHAUCER'S DEATH 1400, TO THE ACCESSION OF
ELIZABETH, 1558
IV. THE AGE OF ELIZABETH 1558-1603
V. THE PURITAN AGE, 1603-1660
VI. FROM THE RESTORATION, 1660, TO THE PUBLICATION OF
PAMELA, 1740
VII. THE SECOND FORTY YEARS OF THE EIGHTEENTH
CENTURY, 1740-1780
VIII. THE AGE OF ROMANTICISM, 1780-1837
IX. THE VICTORIAN AGE, 1837-1900
X. TWENTIETH-CENTURY LITERATURE
SUPPLEMENTARY LIST OF AUTHORS AND THEIR CHIEF
WORKS
INDEX
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS:
1. Woden. 2. Exeter Cathedral. 3. Anglo-Saxon Gleeman. (From the
tapestry designed by H.A. Bone). 4. Facsimile of beginning of Cotton
MS. of Beowulf.(British Museum). 5. Facsimile of Beginning of Junian
MS. of Caedmon. 6. Anglo-Saxon Musicians. (From illuminated MS.,
British Museum). 7. The Beginning of Alfred's Laws. (From
illuminated MS., British Museum). 8. The Death of Harold at Hastings.
(From the Bayeux tapestry). 9. What Mandeville Saw. (From Edition of

1725). 10. John Wycliffe. (From an old print). 11. Treuthe's Pilgryme
atte Plow. (From a MS. in Trinity College, Cambridge). 12.