The explanatory preface which was given with “French Women of Letters” applies to “English Women of Letters” as well. Both are parts of one whole, conceived and written at the same time, and with the same object—namely, “to show how far, for the last two centuries and more, women have contributed to the formation of the modern novel in the two great literatures of modern times—the French and the English.”

I will not trouble my readers by repeating what I already said at some length on this subject, but I will remind them of what may have escaped their memory—that this selection includes none but long dead novelists, or amongst the recently departed, such as have already stood the test of all merit—time.