ASPECTS OF LITERATURE J. MIDDLETON MURRY NEW YORK: ALFRED A. KNOPF MCMXX Copyright, 1920 _Printed in Great Britain_ TO BRUCE RICHMOND TO WHOSE GENEROUS ENCOURAGEMENT I OWE SO MUCH _Preface_ Two of these essays, 'The Function of Criticism' and 'The Religion of Rousseau,' were contributed to the _Times Literary Supplement_; that on 'The Poetry of Edward Thomas' in the _Nation_; all the rest save one have appeared in the _Athenæum_. The essays are arranged in the order in which they were written, with two exceptions. The second part of the essay on Tchehov has been placed with the first for convenience, although in order of thought it should follow the essay, 'The Cry in the Wilderness.' More important, I have placed 'The Function of Criticism' first although it was written last, because it treats of the broad problem of literary criticism, suggests a standard of values implicit elsewhere in the book, and thus to some degree affords an introduction to the remaining essays. But the degree is not great, as the critical reader will quickly discover for himself. I ask him not to indulge the temptation of convicting me out of my own mouth. I am aware that my practice is often inconsistent with my professions; and I ask the reader to remember that the professions were made after the practice and to a considerable extent as the result of it. The practice came first, and if I could reasonably expect so much of the reader I would ask him to read 'The Function of Criticism' once more when he has reached the end of the book.