Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-11-14
EDITORS TABLE.

The Complete Poetical Works of Sir
Walter Scott, with an introduction by
Charles Eliot Norton. Biographical
sketch by Nathan Haskell Dole Printed
from new plates on fine quality of paper.
Beautifully illustrated Photogravure
frontispieces. 2 vols. xxvii+341t429.
Cloth, gilt top, $500 Il. Y. Croweu &
Co., Boston and New York.
Neither the poetical nor prose works of
the great Scotch bard will ever lose their
hold upon the affections of the English
speaking world Many editions of them
have been put upon the market; but
none that we have ever seen combine
more desirable features for library use
than this fine edition of his poetical works
which has been put upon the market by
Crowell & Company. They contain an
admirable biographical sketch of Scott as
an introduction to the first volume, are
printed upon a good quality of paper in
good clear type. They are very substan-
TALLY and handsomely bound in good
quality of English cloth, and contain a
number of excellent illustrations Great
care has been taken in the text which has
been carefully freed from errors that have
crept into previous editions. We can
heartily recommend this edition to those
who desire to secure a set of SCOTS poeti-
cal works without which no home is really
complete.
Boswell's Life of johnson. Edited by
Mowbray Morris. Printed from new
plates on fine paper. GA portraits. Photo
gravure frontispieces. vols, xxv-t-59O,
1900 pp., index.) 12 mo. Cloth, gilt top
So 90; white back, gilt top, $500; half
calf, gilt top, $500. Thomas Y. Crowell
& Co., Boston and New York.
Undoubtedly Samuel johnson owes more
of his fame to his biographer than to his
works. Had he depended upon the latter
it is probable that, despite their merit, his
name would now be almost forgotten, for
it is fact that his writings have small
place in modern libraries. The fact that
he is so frequently quoted is due almost
wholly to Boswell. Undoubtedly John
son was a man of great genius He pos
sessed rugged independence and integ-
rity of character that made him the i'm
placable foe of every form of cant and af
fectatiOn. Beneath the manner of IA bear
he conceded a warm heart and quick sym
pathies. To him more than to any other
man was Oliver Goldsmith indebted for
his great literary success johnson was
in everything man of marked originali-
ty. His conversation like his writings
bore the strong stamp of his individuality.
Boswell, who was his devoted friend and
admirer kept note book i'll which he
faithfully recorded from day to day the
great mans sayings and mode of life.
The result is that his biography is class
ic of it's class but it is not "A classic neg
lected and left to gather dust on the
shelves. 1t is too full of anecdotes and
humor to be considered dull, in spite of
it's length. 1t has been published again
and again and each successive editor
has had the advantage of the work done
by his predecessors The present edition
is carefully edited by Mowbray Norris
and contains in addition many elucida-
tory notes from the monumental work of
Professor G.. b. Hill.
1t is admirably printed, and illustrated
with portraits of the principal persons
mentioned i'm the text There is com
plete index. No better or more convenient
edition can be found.