ence to it. In his essay On War," after being switched off for a couple of pages, he returns to the main line of thought with the remark: "This digression, now, on anecdotes, is what the learned call an excursus, and I am afraid too long by half -not strictly in proportion. But don't mind that. I'll make it all right by being too short upon something else at the next opportunity; and then nobody can complain.”

425. An Intellectual Life.- De Quincey's life was preëminently intellectual. "Without breach of truth or modesty," he says, "I may affirm that my life has been, on the whole, the life of a philosopher; from my birth I was made an intellectual creature; and intellectual in the highest sense my pursuits and pleasures have been, even from my school-boy days." Even his irrepressible humor has an eminently intellectual flavor. De Quincey was not, like Carlyle, a great moral force in the world. While capable of deep affection, he was not subject to violent outbursts of indignation at the sight of evil. He did not set himself up as a reformer. "I am too much of a eudæmonist," he said; "I hanker too much after a state of happiness for myself and others." He sought refuge from the hard conflicts of the world in the retirement of his study. He tried to smooth the path of life by tireless courtesies of manner and speech. He possessed in an eminent degree "the grace of perfect breeding, everywhere persuasive, and nowhere emphatic."

426. Closing Scene.- His death, which occurred Dec. 8, 1859, was calm and beautiful. His mind seemed to revert to his early associations. At the last his heart asserted its supremacy over the intellect, and his last act was to throw up his arms and exclaim, as if with a cry of surprised recognition, "Sister, sister, sister!" Perhaps it was a vision of his dearly loved sister Elizabeth, dead nearly seventy years before, who had now come to lead him beyond the river.

FOR FURTHER READING AND STUDY.

Page, "De Quincey's Life and Writings," Masson, "Life of De Quincey" (English Men of Letters), De Quincey, "Literary Reminiscences," Lathrop, Atlantic Monthly, 40: 569, Japp, Century Magazine, 19: 853.

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A study of De Quincey's style as exemplified in the selection given, Painter's 'Guide to Literary Criticism," Part II. The story of "The Apparition of the Brocken" in the student's own words. What does it reveal as to the range of De Quincey's knowledge? A summary of his opinion of Oxford. See "Autobiographic Sketches." His estimate of Wordsworth in "Literary Reminiscences." A study of the wit and humor in the lecture Murder considered as One of the Fine Arts." The story of the "Revolt of the Tartars." A review of "The English Mail-Coach." De Quincey's estimate of Joan of Arc. Some autobiographic incidents from the Confessions of an Opium-Eater."

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VICTORIAN AGE.

PRINCIPAL WRITERS.

NOVELISTS.- Edward Bulwer, Lord Lytton (1805-1873). Voluminous and popular novelist and dramatist; author of “Eugene Aram (1831), "The Last Days of Pompeii" (1849), "Last of the Barons" (1843), "The Caxtons" (1849), "My Novel" (1853), etc. “The Lady of Lyons" and "Richelieu" are two of the best modern dramas.

Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield (1804-1881). Statesman and novelist; author of "Vivian Grey" (1827), "Coningsby " (1844), Lothair" (1870), "Endymion" (1881), and many others. Charles Kingsley (1819-1875). Clergyman, poet, and novelist; author of "Alton Locke (1849), "Hypatia" (1853), “Westward Ho" (1855), "Hereward the Wake" (1866), etc.

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Frederick Marryat (1792-1848). Novelist of nautical adventure, who is unsurpassed in his sphere. "Peter Simple," Jacob Faithful," and "Mr. Midshipman Easy" are perhaps his best. Other novels are "The Phantom Ship" (1839), "Masterman Ready " (1841), 'The Privateersman (1844), and many more.

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99

Anthony Trollope (1815-1882). One of the most voluminous of all novelists; author of "The Warden" (1855), "Barchester Towers " (1857), “Framley Parsonage" (1860), “Can You Forgive Her" (1864), "Phineas Finn" (1869), etc.

Charles Reade (1814-1884). Author of "Peg Woffington" (1852), "It is Never Too Late to Mend" (1856), “The Cloister and the Hearth" (1861), etc.

Wilkie Collins (1824-1889). Author of numerous novels, among which are 66 The Woman in White" (1860), "No Name" (1862), The Moonstone" (1868), "Man and Wife" (1870), etc. Some of his novels have been dramatized.

Robert Louis Stevenson (1845-1894). Novelist of the new romantic school; author of "Virginibus Puerisque" (1881), “Treasure Island" (1883), “Prince Otto" (1885), “Kidnapped" (1886), "The Master of Ballantrae" (1889), and "Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde."

Dinah Maria Craik (1826-1888). Author of many novels, preëminent among which are "John Halifax, Gentleman and A Life for a Life" (1859). Others are "Mistress and Maid" (1863), "A Noble Life" (1866), "The Woman's Kingdom " (1869), etc. Charles Dickens (1812-1870). Voluminous novelist, editor, and reformer. Author of "Pickwick Papers" (1836), "Oliver Twist" (1838), which portrays criminal life in London, "Nicholas Nickleby" (1838), written to expose the cruelties of certain Yorkshire schools, "Old Curiosity Shop" with its heroine Little Nell, "David Copperfield" (1850), which i: largely autobiographical, and perhaps his best novel, and many others. (See Text.)

William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1862). A novelist, editor, and poet of keen analytic and satirical power. His best works are "Vanity Fair" (1847), a novel without a hero, " Pendennis" (1848), "Henry Esmond" (1852), which is commonly regarded as his best work, "The Newcomes" (1855), and The Virginians (1859). His "English Humorists is a delightful study of Swift, Addison, Steele, Pope, and Goldsmith. (See Text.)

دو

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Charlotte Bronté (1816–1855). A novelist of rare gifts but of limited range. Her best work is "Jane Eyre" (1847). Her oth: works are Shirley" (1849), "Villette" (1853), and "The Professor," which was published after her death. Her replete with autobiographic elements. (See Text.)

novels are

George Eliot (1819-1880). An essayist, poet, and novelist of keen psychological power. Author of "The Mill on the Floss (1860), "Silas Marner" (1861), “Adam Bede" (1859), "Romola' (1863), "Middlemarch (1872), and “Daniel Deronda” (1876). The greatest of all women novelists. (See text.)

POETRY. - Arthur Hugh Clough (1819-1861): "The Bothie of Tober-na-Vuolich" (1848) and "Depsychus" (1862). A poet of doubt, who "has neither the strength to believe nor the courage to disbelieve."

Lord Lytton ("Owen Meredith ") (1831-1892). Statesman, novelist, and poet; author of the following poetical works: "Clytemnestra (1855), "The Wanderer" (1859), "Lucile" (1860), "Fables in Song," and several others.

William Morris (1834-1896). Novelist and poet. His principal poetical works are "The Defence of Guinevere" (1858), "The