THE KING’S CLASSICS
Reading edition
UNDER THE GENERAL EDITORSHIP OF PROFESSOR I. GOLLANCZ, LITT.D.
“Right Royal Series.”—Literary World.
“We note with pleasure that competent scholars in every case have supervised this Series, which can therefore be received with confidence.”—Athenæum.
The Series of “King’s Classics,” issued under the General Editorship of Professor I. GOLLANCZ, aims at introducing to the larger reading public many noteworthy works of literature not readily accessible in cheap form, or not hitherto rendered into English. Each volume is edited by some expert scholar, and has a summary introduction dealing with the main and essential facts of the literary history of the book; at the end there are the necessary notes for a right understanding of references and textual difficulties; where necessary, there is also a carefully-compiled index. As will be at once seen from the accompanying list, much original and new work has been secured for the Series, and it will be recognised that the “King’s Classics” differentiate themselves in a very marked way from the many reprints of popular books.
It should be noted, however, that while primarily rare masterpieces are included in the “King’s Classics,” modern popular classics, more especially such as have not yet been adequately or at all annotated, are not excluded from the Series.
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NOTE.—At the date of this list, May 1, 1907, Nos. 1-35 were published. Numbers subsequent to 35 are at press or about to go to press.
The “King’s Classics” are printed on antique laid paper, 16mo. (6 X 4½ inches), gilt tops, and are issued in the following styles and prices. Each volume has a frontispiece, usually in photogravure.
Quarter bound, antique grey boards, ⅙ net.
Red Cloth, ⅙ net.
Quarter Vellum, grey cloth sides, 2/6 net.
Special three-quarter Vellum, Oxford side-papers, gilt tops, silk marker, 5/- net.
***Nos. 2, 20 and 24 are double volumes. Price, Boards or Cloth, 3/- net; Quarter Vellum, 5/- net; special three-quarter Vellum, 7/6 net.
1. THE LOVE OF BOOKS: being the Philobiblon of RICHARD DE BURY.
Translated by E.C. THOMAS. Frontispiece, Seal of Richard de Bury (as Bishop of Durham).
3. THE CHRONICLE OF JOCELIN OF BRAKELOND, MONK OF ST. EDMUNDSBURY: a Picture of Monastic and Social Life in the XIIth Century.
Newly translated, from the original Latin, with notes, table of dates relating to the Abbey of St. Edmundsbury, and index, by L.C. JANE, M.A., sometime Exhibitioner in Modern History at University College, Oxon., and with an Introduction by the Right Rev. Abbot GASQUET. Frontispiece, Seal of Abbot Samson (A.D. 1200).
***20. THE NUN’S RULE, or Ancren Riwle, in Modern English.
Being the injunctions of Bishop Poore intended for the guidance of nuns or anchoresses, as set forth in the famous thirteenth-century MS. referred to above.
Editor, the Right Rev. Abbot GASQUET. Frontispiece, Seal of Bishop Poore.
Double volume.
17. MEDIÆVAL, LORE.
From Bartholomæus Anglicus. Edited with notes, index and glossary by ROBERT STEELE. Preface by the late WILLIAM MORRIS. Frontispiece, an old illumination, representing Astrologers using Astrolabes.
[The book is drawn from one of the most widely-read works of mediæval times. Its popularity is explained by its scope, which comprises explanations of allusions to natural objects met with in Scripture and elsewhere. It was, in fact, an account of the properties of things in general.]
11. THE ROMANCE OF FULK FITZWARINE.
Newly translated from the Anglo-French by ALICE KEMP-WELCH, with an introduction by Professor BRANDIN. Frontispiece, Whittington Castle in Shropshire, the seat of the Fitzwarines.
45. THE SONG OF ROLAND.
Newly translated from the old French by Mrs. CROSLAND. Introduction by Professor BRANDIN, University of London. Frontispiece.
22. EARLY LIVES OF CHARLEMAGNE.
Translated and edited by A.J. GRANT. With frontispiece representing an early bronze figure of Charlemagne from the Musée Carnavalet, Paris.
We have here given us two “Lives” of Charlemagne by contemporary authorities—one by Eginhard and the other by the Monk of St. Gall. Very different in style, when brought together in one volume each supplies the deficiencies of the other.
35. WINE, WOMEN, AND SONG.
Mediæval students’ songs, translated from the Latin, with an essay, by JOHN ADDINGTON SYMONDS. Frontispiece after a fifteenth-century woodcut.
18. THE VISION OF PIERS THE PLOWMAN.
By WILLIAM LANGLAND; in modern English by Professor SKEAT, Litt.D. Frontispiece, “God Speed the Plough,” from an old MS.
8. CHAUCER’S KNIGHT’S TALE, or Palamon and Arcite.
In modern English by Professor SKEAT, Litt.D. Frontispiece, “The Canterbury Pilgrims,” from an illuminated MS.
9. CHAUCER’S MAN OF LAW’S TALE, Squire’s Tale, and Nun’s Priest’s Tale.
In modern English by Professor SKEAT, Litt.D. Frontispiece from an illuminated MS.
10. CHAUCER’S PRIORESS’S TALE, Pardoner’s Tale, Clerk’s Tale, and Canon’s Yeoman’s Tale.
In modern English by Professor SKEAT, Litt.D. Frontispiece, “The Patient Griselda,” from the well-known fifteenth-century picture of the Umbrian School in the National Gallery.
41. CHAUCER’S LEGEND OF GOOD WOMEN.
In modern English, with notes and introduction, by Professor W.W. SKEAT, Litt.D. Frontispiece, “Ariadne Deserted,” after the painting by ANGELICA KAUFMANN.
36, 37. GEORGE PETTIE’S “PETITE PALACE OF PETTIE HIS PLEASURE.”
The popular Elizabethan book containing twelve classical love-stories— “Sinorex and Camma,” “Tereus and Progne,” etc.—in style the precursor of Euphues, now first reprinted under the editorship of Professor I. GOLLANCZ. Frontispieces, a reproduction of the original title, and of an original page.
In two volumes.
21. THE MEMOIRS OF ROBERT CARY, Earl of Monmouth.
Being a contemporary record of the life of that nobleman as Warden of the Marches and at the Court of Elizabeth.
Editor, G.H. POWELL. With frontispiece from the original edition, representing Queen Elizabeth in a state procession, with the Earl of Monmouth and others in attendance.
19. THE GULL’S HORNBOOK.
By THOMAS DEKKER. Editor, R.B. MCKERROW. Frontispiece, The nave of St. Paul’s Cathedral at the time of Elizabeth.
29. SHAKESPEARE’S SONNETS.
Editor, C.C. STOPES. Frontispiece, Portrait of the Earl of Southampton.
4. THE LIFE OF SIR THOMAS MORE, Knight.
By his son-in-law, WILLIAM ROPER. With letters to and from his famous daughter, Margaret Roper. Frontispiece, Portrait of Sir Thomas More, after Holbein.
33. THE HOUSEHOLD OF SIR THOMAS MORE. By ANNE MANNING. Preface by RICHARD GARNETT. Frontispiece, “The Family of Sir Thomas More.”
40. SIR THOMAS MORE’S UTOPIA.
Now for the first time edited from the first edition by ROBERT STEELE. Frontispiece, Portrait of Sir Thomas More, after an early engraving.
44. THE FOUR LAST THINGS, together with the Life of Pico della Mirandola and the English Poems.
By Sir THOMAS MORE. Edited by DANIEL O’CONNOR. Frontispiece after two designs from the “Daunce of Death.”
43. SIR WILLIAM TEMPLE’S ESSAY ON GARDENS, together with other Carolean Essays on Gardens.
Edited, and with notes and introduction, by A. FORBES SIEVEKING, F.S.A. Frontispiece, Portrait of Sir William Temple, and five reproductions of early “garden” engravings.
5. EIKON BASILIKE: or, The King’s Book.
Edited by EDWARD ALMACK, F.S.A. Frontispiece, Portrait of King Charles I. This edition, which has been printed from an advance copy of the King’s Book seized by Cromwell’s soldiers, is the first inexpensive one for a hundred years in which the original spelling of the first edition has been preserved.