DICKENS, THE FOREMOST OF NOVELISTS 47 More Widely Read Than Any Other Story-Teller--The Greatest of the Modern Humorists Appeals to the Readers of All Ages and Classes. THACKERAY, GREATEST MASTER OF FICTION 56 The Most Accomplished Writer of His Century--Tender Pathos Under an Affectation of Cynicism and Great Art in Style and Characters. CHARLOTTE BRONTE; HER TWO GREAT NOVELS 66 _Jane Eyre_ and _Villette_ are Touched With Genius--The Tragedy of a Woman's Life That Resulted in Two Stories of Passionate Revolt Against Fate. GEORGE ELIOT AND HER TWO GREAT NOVELS 76 _Adam Bede_ and _The Mill on the Floss_--Her Early Stories Are Rich in Character Sketches, With Much Humor and Pathos. RUSKIN, THE APOSTLE OF ART 87 Art Critic and Social Reformer--Best Books Are _Modern Painters_, _The Seven Lamps_ and _The Stones of Venice_. TENNYSON LEADS THE VICTORIAN WRITERS 96 A Poet Who Voiced the Aspirations of His Age--_Locksley Hall_, _In Memoriam_ and _The Idylls of the King_ Among His Best Works. BROWNING, GREATEST POET SINCE SHAKESPEARE 106 How to Get the Best of Browning's Poems--Read the Lyrics First and Then Take Up the Longer and the More Difficult Works. MEREDITH AND A FEW OF HIS BEST NOVELS 115 One of the Greatest Masters of Fiction of the Last Century--_The Ordeal of Richard Feverel_, _Diana of the Crossways_ and Other Novels. STEVENSON, PRINCE OF MODERN STORY-TELLERS 123 His Stories of Adventure and Brilliant Essays--_Treasure Island_ and _Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde_ His Most Popular Books. THOMAS HARDY; HIS TRAGIC TALES OF WESSEX 131 Greatest Living Writer of English Fiction--Resenting Harsh Criticisms, the Prose Master Turns to Verse. KIPLING'S BEST SHORT STORIES AND POEMS 140 Tales of East Indian Life and Character--Ideal Training of the Genius That Has Produced Some of the Best Literary Work of Our Day. BIBLIOGRAPHY 151 Short Notes of Both Standard and Other Editions, With Lives, Sketches and Reminiscences. INDEX 165 Illustrations FACING PAGE Charles Dickens Reading _The Chimes_ at 58 Lincoln's Inn Fields on the Second of December, 1844. From a Sketch by Daniel Maclise, R.A. _Title_ Thomas Babington Macaulay at the Age of Forty-nine--After an Engraving by W. Holl, from a Drawing by George Richmond, A.R.A. 6