The authors are under obligations to the direction of the Philippine Library at Manila, which most generously put at their disposal all of its great collection of literature and objects relating to Rizal; to Mr. Fernando Canon for his interesting personal reminiscences; to the Hon. Jaime C. de Veyra, late resident commissioner from the Philippines to the United States, long a collector of Rizaliana, for rich material as well as for unstinted and invaluable assistance; to the Hon. Isauro Gabaldon, present resident commissioner, for sympathetic encouragement; to Senator Sandiko for useful data; to Miss Sevilla for her investigations concerning Leonora Rivera; and to many good friends in Manila and elsewhere that have contributed suggestions and corrected errors. Mr. Benito Soliven’s masterly summary of Rizal’s work in science and Dr. Eliseo Hervas’s estimate of Rizal’s place as a poet have been most helpful. Of Dr. T. H. Pardo de Tavera’s admirable treatise “El Carácter de Rizal” (Manila, 1918) free use has been made. Mr. Pañina’s “Murió el Doctor Rizal Cristianamente?” has been carefully studied. For the historical part of the narrative the authors have consulted chiefly Fernández, Foreman, Barrows, and the great work of Blair and Robertson. The citations from “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo” in the ensuing pages are from the translations by Charles Derbyshire, both published by the Philippine Education Company, Manila, 1912. To understand Rizal and his strange story it is necessary to understand the environment into which he was born and against which he protested. As any description written now of Spanish rule as it really was in the Philippines would seem to American readers of these days improbable or even fantastical, the needed background is supplied, so far as possible, in Rizal’s own words. Aside from the human interest that would at any time attend a life so tragic, certain chief reasons have seemed to the authors sufficient to justify the appearance now of such a book: 1. The hope to make available to American readers the story of the great man and national hero of the people the United States has undertaken to lead to national independence. 2. At a time when race antagonisms seem to have been revived and emphasized, the fundamental truths about the universal household are naturally obscured. Lest we forget how foolish, in the end, are the pretended racial superiorities, it may be well to take note of this brown man that revealed a genius so great, a mind so strangely resourceful, so wide a range in achievement, so unusual a character, while performing a service so momentous. Of a race too lightly esteemed by Caucasians, he left a record of which the foremost Caucasian people might justly be proud.