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This series provides a high-quality selection of early printings of literary works, textual editions, anthologies and literary criticism which are of lasting scholarly interest. Ranging from Old English to Shakespeare to early twentieth-century work from around the world, these books offer a valuable resource for scholars in reception history, textual editing and literary studies.

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451 results in Cambridge Library Collection - Literary Studies

Page 9 of 23

The Complete Concordance to Shakspere
  • Being a Verbal Index to All the Passages in the Dramatic Works of the Poet
  • Mary Cowden Clarke
  • Published online:
    05 May 2014
    Print publication:
    31 October 2013
    First published in:
    1845
  • Daughter of the music publisher Vincent Novello, Mary Cowden Clarke (1809–98) grew up in London amid her father's literary and artistic circle. Charles and Mary Lamb were family friends, and their Tales from Shakespeare (1807) inspired the young Mary to become a scholar of the Bard. This monumental concordance - which took twelve years to compile and a further four to see through the press - was first published between 1844 and 1845 in eighteen monthly parts, and then in book form in 1845. The preface opens with a statement that reflects Cowden Clarke's great admiration and ambition: 'Shakspere [sic], the most frequently quoted, because the most universal-minded Genius that ever lived, of all Authors best deserves a complete Concordance to his Works.' It was to remain the standard work of its kind for half a century and is still a fascinating and diverting source of information on Shakespeare's extraordinary vocabulary.

The Auto-Biography of Goethe
  • Truth and Poetry: From my Own Life
  • Volume 1
  • Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
  • Translated by John Oxenford
  • Published online:
    05 May 2014
    Print publication:
    21 February 2013
    First published in:
    1848
  • The playwright and critic John Oxenford (1812–77) had an acute aptitude for languages. Although he translated both Molière and Calderón into English, he specialised in German translations and set high standards, not least with his rendering of several works by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832). Among the greatest literary figures of his day, Goethe combined considerable achievements as a poet, novelist and playwright with his diverse interests in natural science and politics. This two-volume translation of his autobiography first appeared in 1848–9. In Volume 1, Goethe tells the story of his life from the day he was born until the publication of The Sorrows of Young Werther, which attained cult status almost immediately after it was released in 1774. As the protagonist of his own story, Goethe reflects here on how he himself came of age.

The Auto-Biography of Goethe
  • Truth and Poetry: From my Own Life
  • Volume 2
  • Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
  • Translated by John Oxenford
  • Published online:
    05 May 2014
    Print publication:
    21 February 2013
    First published in:
    1849
  • The playwright and critic John Oxenford (1812–77) had an acute aptitude for languages. Although he translated both Molière and Calderón into English, he specialised in German translations and set high standards, not least with his rendering of several works by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832). Among the greatest literary figures of his day, Goethe combined considerable achievements as a poet, novelist and playwright with his diverse interests in natural science and politics. This two-volume translation of his autobiography first appeared in 1848–9. In Volume 2, Goethe recalls how he first arrived in the small city of Weimar, which grew into an important cultural centre, due in no small part to his extended residence there. Also included are letters from Switzerland along with notes from the time he spent in Italy during the 1880s. Goethe's Italian travels would be highly significant for his artistic development and outlook.

A History of Eighteenth-Century Literature (1660–1780)
  • Edmund Gosse
  • Published online:
    05 April 2014
    Print publication:
    24 October 2013
    First published in:
    1889
  • This work by Edmund Gosse (1849–1928) was commissioned by Macmillan as the third volume in a series of literary histories, and published in 1889, when literary criticism was still a relatively new field of academic study. His earlier work had led to his appointment as Lecturer at Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1884 and to a hugely popular American lecture tour that same year. An established poet, author and critic, Gosse had a loyal following within the literary establishment of Cambridge and London, despite lacking formal academic qualifications. His approach to analysis was through personal impressions, and discussions of the biographies as well as output of a wide range of writers from Dryden to Johnson. Reviewers noted his identification of the years 1660–1780 as being central to the beginnings of the novel and the concern to 'reform and regulate ordinary writing', and praised his comparison of English and Continental literature.

Shakespeare in the Theatre
  • William Poel
  • Published online:
    05 April 2014
    Print publication:
    27 June 2013
    First published in:
    1913
  • William Poel (1852–1934), actor, director and author, began his acting career in 1876, deliberately choosing provincial touring in order to learn his craft. After a period as manager of the Royal Victoria Hall and Coffee Tavern (later the Old Vic), he worked as stage manager for the actor-manager Frank Benson. In the 1890s he founded the Elizabethan Stage Society in order to demonstrate his fervent belief that only a return to Elizabethan performance methods would enable a true understanding of Shakespeare's plays. This was to have a profound influence on modern productions, with directors such as Tyrone Guthrie and John Gielgud adopting his ideals rather than his often idiosyncratic practices. Moreover, his long-held wish for a replica of the Globe Theatre has since become a reality. Poel was also a prolific author and this work, first published in 1913, explores his philosophy by bringing together four articles on the staging of Shakespeare.

Memoirs of Mrs Siddons
  • Interspersed with Anecdotes of Authors and Actors
  • Volume 2
  • James Boaden
  • Published online:
    05 March 2014
    Print publication:
    06 June 2013
    First published in:
    1827
  • Published in 1827, this two-volume work by the playwright and biographer James Boaden (1762–1839) is a sprightly portrayal of the acclaimed actress Sarah Siddons (1755–1831). Closely collaborating with his subject, Boaden (whose memoir of Dorothy Jordan is also reissued in this series) was able to establish himself as an authoritative biographer, preferred over others for his intellect and wealth of anecdotes from a lifetime spent within the theatrical world. Arguably the greatest tragic actress of her age, Siddons broke new ground in the reactions she provoked in audiences and in the social legitimisation of the English stage. Containing vivid descriptions of performances, this work details the acting style of Siddons and the inner workings of the theatrical community. Volume 2 covers Siddons' most illustrious period, when she established herself as a cultural icon, from royal patronage in the mid-1780s and her celebrated Lady Macbeth, to her retirement in 1812 and occasional subsequent appearances.

Studies of a Biographer
  • Volume 2
  • Leslie Stephen
  • Published online:
    05 March 2014
    Print publication:
    24 May 2012
    First published in:
    1898
  • Sir Leslie Stephen (1832–1904) was founding Editor of the Dictionary of National Biography (DNB). Also a writer on philosophy, ethics, and literature, he was educated at Eton, King's College, London, and Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where he remained as a Fellow and a tutor for a number of years. Though a sickly child, he later became a keen and successful mountaineer, taking part in first ascents of nine peaks in the Alps. These biographical essays and critiques were written originally for the National Review and published as two two-volume sets in 1898 and 1902. These vignettes show that, despite the years of preparing material for the DNB to its particular editorial requirements, Stephen was still a master of the finely crafted depiction of the essence of his chosen subjects. Volume 2 includes portraits of Walter Scott, Matthew Arnold and Pascal, and a study of the exploration of German literature in England.

The Playground of Europe
  • Leslie Stephen
  • Published online:
    05 March 2014
    Print publication:
    21 March 2013
    First published in:
    1894
  • Author and mountaineer Sir Leslie Stephen (1832–1904) developed a passion for the Alps following his first trip to the Bavarian Tyrol in 1855. He went on to achieve several first ascents of Alpine peaks, earning him a reputation as one of the foremost alpinists in Britain. An intrepid climber and gifted writer, Stephen embodied a new trend of mountaineering, of a more athletic nature, and his vivid and lyrical descriptions of his experiences in these mountains have an almost poetic quality to them, testifying to the heights of his enthusiasm. First published in 1871 to commemorate his first ascents, this collection of articles quickly became a classic of mountaineering literature. The present work is a reissue of the 1894 edition, which was substantially revised by the author. It remains a charming and informative group of essays which will appeal to readers interested in the history of alpinism.

Diary and Letters of Madame d'Arblay
  • Edited by her Niece
  • Volume 6
  • Fanny Burney
  • Edited by Charlotte Barrett
  • Published online:
    05 March 2014
    Print publication:
    29 August 2013
  • Born into a musical family as the daughter of Charles Burney, Frances 'Fanny' Burney (1752–1840) opted for a life of letters. Her epistolary novel Evelina generated both sensation and sales upon its appearance early in 1778, and when her identity as the author was soon revealed, it opened the door to intellectual circles frequented by the likes of Samuel Johnson and fellow diarist Hester Thrale. Appearing under her married name of Madame d'Arblay, her witty and candid journals and correspondence, from her breakthrough until her final years, were edited by her niece Charlotte Barrett (1786–1870) and first published in seven volumes between 1842 and 1846. Reissued here is the new edition of 1854, including biographical notes. Volume 6 covers the period from September 1793 through to 1812, during which she published Camilla (1796) and, in an episode omitted here, endured a mastectomy without anaesthetic.

Studies of a Biographer
  • Volume 3
  • Leslie Stephen
  • Published online:
    05 March 2014
    Print publication:
    24 May 2012
    First published in:
    1902
  • Sir Leslie Stephen (1832–1904) was founding Editor of the Dictionary of National Biography (DNB). Also a writer on philosophy, ethics, and literature, he was educated at Eton, King's College, London, and Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where he remained as a Fellow and a tutor for a number of years. Though a sickly child, he later became a keen and successful mountaineer, taking part in first ascents of nine peaks in the Alps. These biographical essays and critiques were written originally for the National Review and published as two two-volume sets in 1898 and 1902. These vignettes show that, despite the years of preparing material for the DNB to its particular editorial requirements, Stephen was still a master of the finely crafted depiction of the essence of his chosen subjects. Volume 3 includes essays on Donne, John Ruskin, the Brownings' letters and, in complete contrast, a chapter considering the pleasures of walking.

Diary and Letters of Madame d'Arblay
  • Edited by her Niece
  • Volume 5
  • Fanny Burney
  • Edited by Charlotte Barrett
  • Published online:
    05 March 2014
    Print publication:
    29 August 2013
  • Born into a musical family as the daughter of Charles Burney, Frances 'Fanny' Burney (1752–1840) opted for a life of letters. Her epistolary novel Evelina generated both sensation and sales upon its appearance early in 1778, and when her identity as the author was soon revealed, it opened the door to intellectual circles frequented by the likes of Samuel Johnson and fellow diarist Hester Thrale. Appearing under her married name of Madame d'Arblay, her witty and candid journals and correspondence, from her breakthrough until her final years, were edited by her niece Charlotte Barrett (1786–1870) and first published in seven volumes between 1842 and 1846. Reissued here is the new edition of 1854, including biographical notes. Volume 5 covers the period from March 1789 through to September 1793, during which she married an émigré officer as the French Revolution shook Europe.

Hours in a Library (Third Series)
  • Leslie Stephen
  • Published online:
    05 March 2014
    Print publication:
    24 May 2012
    First published in:
    1879
  • This three-volume set brings together a diverse selection of essays by Sir Leslie Stephen (1832–1904), author, philosopher and literary critic. Educated at Eton and Cambridge, he was the founding editor of the Dictionary of National Biography and father of Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell. He wrote critiques of many authors and works, which were published in periodicals such as the Cornhill Magazine (of which he was editor from 1871), Fraser's Magazine and the Fortnightly Review. The Third Series, first published in 1879, includes commentaries on the works of Henry Fielding, Charlotte Brontë, Charles Kingsley and Walter Savage Landor, and the poetry of William Wordsworth. Stephen sets each writer's work in its historical context, comparing it to that of other significant authors of its era and evaluating its philosophical and moral qualities. His articles remain of great interest to scholars of early modern, Romantic and Victorian literature.

Hours in a Library
  • Leslie Stephen
  • Published online:
    05 March 2014
    Print publication:
    24 May 2012
    First published in:
    1874
  • This three-volume set brings together a diverse selection of essays by Sir Leslie Stephen (1832–1904), author, philosopher and literary critic. Educated at Eton and Cambridge, he was the founding editor of the Dictionary of National Biography and father of Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell. He wrote critiques of many authors and works, which were published in periodicals such as the Cornhill Magazine (of which he was editor from 1871), Fraser's Magazine and the Fortnightly Review. The First Series, published in 1874, includes commentaries on the works of Daniel Defoe, Samuel Richardson, Sir Walter Scott and Honoré de Balzac, and the poetry of Alexander Pope. Stephen sets each writer's work in its historical context, comparing it to that of other significant authors of its era and evaluating its philosophical and moral qualities. His articles remain of great interest to scholars of early modern, Romantic and Victorian literature.

Memoir of Mrs Barbauld
  • Including Letters and Notices of her Family and Friends
  • Anna Letitia Le Breton
  • Published online:
    05 March 2014
    Print publication:
    21 February 2013
    First published in:
    1874
  • Anna Letitia Barbauld (1743–1825), poet, educator and essayist, is now considered to be one of the most important writers of the early Romantic period. Included in her highly regarded works on literary, political, social, and other intellectual topics is the ambitious poem Eighteen Hundred and Eleven (1812), which condemned Britain's participation in the Napoleonic Wars. She gained recognition for her influential elementary textbooks Lessons for Children (1778–9) and Hymns in Prose for Children (1781), which made her name synonymous with the instruction of infants. Her reputation suffered, however, from attacks by critics of her poetry and politics. This charming biography by Anna Letitia Le Breton (1808–85), her great-niece, was first published in 1874 and seeks to bring Barbauld's name back to public attention and acclaim. It draws on personal recollections, letters, and other family memorabilia in the author's possession.

Memoirs of Mrs Siddons
  • Interspersed with Anecdotes of Authors and Actors
  • Volume 1
  • James Boaden
  • Published online:
    05 March 2014
    Print publication:
    06 June 2013
    First published in:
    1827
  • Published in 1827, this two-volume work by the playwright and biographer James Boaden (1762–1839) is a sprightly portrayal of the acclaimed actress Sarah Siddons (1755–1831). Closely collaborating with his subject, Boaden (whose memoir of Dorothy Jordan is also reissued in this series) was able to establish himself as an authoritative biographer, preferred over others for his intellect and wealth of anecdotes from a lifetime spent within the theatrical world. Arguably the greatest tragic actress of her age, Siddons broke new ground in the reactions she provoked in audiences and in the social legitimisation of the English stage. Containing vivid descriptions of performances, this work details the acting style of Siddons and the inner workings of the theatrical community. Volume 1 discusses the idea of biographies of notable women, the history of the theatre and the life and career of Siddons up to her triumphant return to Drury Lane in 1782.

A Shadow of Dante
  • Being an Essay Towards Studying Himself, His World and His Pilgrimage
  • Maria Francesca Rossetti
  • Published online:
    05 March 2014
    Print publication:
    27 June 2013
    First published in:
    1871
  • 'Any acquaintance with a work so sublime must needs be better than none. A shadow may win the gaze of some who never looked upon the substance.' In this scholarly introduction to the Divine Comedy, Maria Francesca Rossetti (1827–76) urges readers not to be put off by Dante's difficult language and befuddling cosmology. Deploying prose summaries alongside translated extracts of the poem, she takes the reader on a tour through Dante's world, from the first shadowy appearance of Virgil to the pilgrimage through Paradise. Rossetti also illuminates many aspects of the poem usually considered impenetrable by its English readership. Among them are the geography of the landscape, the connotations of the most significant Italian images, and the incorporation of the classical vision of Hell into the Christian version. Maps, textual annotations and thorough linguistic notes support her exegesis, which, though originally published in 1871, remains one of the finest available today.

Studies of a Biographer
  • Volume 1
  • Leslie Stephen
  • Published online:
    05 March 2014
    Print publication:
    24 May 2012
    First published in:
    1898
  • Sir Leslie Stephen (1832–1904) was founding Editor of the Dictionary of National Biography (DNB). Also a writer on philosophy, ethics, and literature, he was educated at Eton, King's College, London, and Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where he remained as a Fellow and a tutor for a number of years. Though a sickly child, he later became a keen and successful mountaineer, taking part in first ascents of nine peaks in the Alps. These biographical essays and critiques were written originally for the National Review and published as two two-volume sets in 1898 and 1902. These vignettes show that, despite the years of preparing material for the DNB to its particular editorial requirements, Stephen was still a master of the finely crafted depiction of the essence of his chosen subjects. Volume 1 includes a consideration of the art of biography, a critique of works on Johnson, and essays on Gibbon and Wordsworth.

From Shakespeare to Pope
  • An Inquiry into the Causes and Phenomena of the Rise of Classical Poetry in England
  • Edmund Gosse
  • Published online:
    05 March 2014
    Print publication:
    29 August 2013
    First published in:
    1885
  • Edmund Gosse (1849–1928), best known for his memoir Father and Son, was one of the foremost literary critics of his day, even though he had not received a university education. Invited to give the prestigious Clark Lectures at Cambridge, he developed the materials for this book, first published in 1885. Gosse sets out his theory of classical poetry, analysing its rise in the seventeenth century in opposition to freer, more romantic blank-verse forms. The book became the subject of a famously excoriating forty-page review by Oxford-educated critic John Churton Collins. While Collins' estimation of the inaccuracies in Gosse's work was largely correct, the review went far beyond constructive appraisal and caused a literary scandal, though Gosse's reputation was not permanently damaged. This book and the controversy it caused form part of the story of English literature as it established itself as a professional academic discipline.

Diary and Letters of Madame d'Arblay
  • Edited by her Niece
  • Volume 2
  • Fanny Burney
  • Edited by Charlotte Barrett
  • Published online:
    05 March 2014
    Print publication:
    29 August 2013
  • Born into a musical family as the daughter of Charles Burney, Frances 'Fanny' Burney (1752–1840) opted for a life of letters. Her epistolary novel Evelina generated both sensation and sales upon its appearance early in 1778, and when her identity as the author was soon revealed, it opened the door to intellectual circles frequented by the likes of Samuel Johnson and fellow diarist Hester Thrale. Appearing under her married name of Madame d'Arblay, her witty and candid journals and correspondence, from her breakthrough until her final years, were edited by her niece Charlotte Barrett (1786–1870) and first published in seven volumes between 1842 and 1846. Reissued here is the new edition of 1854, including biographical notes. Volume 2 covers the period from the beginning of 1781 to July 1786, during which Cecilia (1782), her second novel, was published.

Diary and Letters of Madame d'Arblay
  • Edited by her Niece
  • Volume 4
  • Fanny Burney
  • Edited by Charlotte Barrett
  • Published online:
    05 March 2014
    Print publication:
    29 August 2013
  • Born into a musical family as the daughter of Charles Burney, Frances 'Fanny' Burney (1752–1840) opted for a life of letters. Her epistolary novel Evelina generated both sensation and sales upon its appearance early in 1778, and when her identity as the author was soon revealed, it opened the door to intellectual circles frequented by the likes of Samuel Johnson and fellow diarist Hester Thrale. Appearing under her married name of Madame d'Arblay, her witty and candid journals and correspondence, from her breakthrough until her final years, were edited by her niece Charlotte Barrett (1786–1870) and first published in seven volumes between 1842 and 1846. Reissued here is the new edition of 1854, including biographical notes. Volume 4 covers the period from the beginning of 1788 through to the end of February 1789. It features the notable episode in which an unbalanced George III chased Fanny through Kew Gardens.

Page 9 of 23