The contemporary science series will bring within general reach of the English-speaking public the best that is known and thought in all departments of modern scientific research. The influence of the scientific spirit is now rapidly spreading in every field of human activity. Social progress, it is felt, must be guided and accompanied by accurate knowledge,--knowledge which is, in many departments, not yet open to the English reader. In the Contemporary Science Series all the questions of modern life--the various social and politico-economical problems of to-day, the most recent researches in the knowledge of man, the past and present experiences of the race, and the nature of its environment--will be frankly investigated and clearly presented. * * * * * The first volumes of the Series will be:-- THE EVOLUTION OF SEX. By Prof. PATRICK GEDDES and J. ARTHUR THOMSON. With 90 Illustrations, and about 300 pages. [_Now Ready._ ELECTRICITY IN MODERN LIFE. By G.W. DE TUNZELMANN. With 88 Illustrations. [_Ready 25th November._ THE ORIGIN OF THE ARYANS. By Dr. ISAAC TAYLOR. With numerous Illustrations. [_Ready 25th December._ The following Writers, among others, are preparing volumes for this Series:-- Prof. E.D. Cope, Prof. G.F. Fitzgerald, Prof. J. Geikie, G.L. Gomme, E.C.K. Gonner, Prof. J. Jastrow (Wisconsin), E Sidney Hartland, Prof. C.H. Herford, J. Bland Sutton, Dr. C. Mercier, Sidney Webb, Dr. Sims Woodhead, Dr. C.M. Woodward (St. Louis, Mo.), etc. * * * * * LONDON: WALTER SCOTT, 24 Warwick Lane, Paternoster Row. GREAT WRITERS. A NEW SERIES OF CRITICAL BIOGRAPHIES. Edited by Professor ERIC S. ROBERTSON, M.A. MONTHLY SHILLING VOLUMES. _VOLUMES ALREADY ISSUED_-- LIFE OF LONGFELLOW. By Prof. Eric S. Robertson. "A most readable little work."--_Liverpool Mercury._ LIFE OF COLERIDGE. By Hall Caine. "Brief and vigorous, written throughout with spirit and great literary skill."--_Scotsman._ LIFE OF DICKENS. By Frank T. Marzials. "Notwithstanding the mass of matter that has been printed relating to Dickens and his works ... we should, until we came across this volume, have been at a loss to recommend any popular life of England's most popular novelist as being really satisfactory. The difficulty is removed by Mr. Marzials's little book."--_Athenæum._ LIFE OF DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI By J. Knight. "Mr. Knight's picture of the great poet and painter is the fullest and best yet presented to the public."--_The Graphic._ LIFE OF SAMUEL JOHNSON. By Colonel F. Grant. "Colonel Grant has performed his task with diligence, sound judgment good taste, and accuracy."--_Illustrated London News._ LIFE OF DARWIN. By G.T. Bettany. "Mr. G.T. Bettany's _Life of Darwin_ is a sound and conscientious work."--_Saturday Review._