THE SHORTER POEMS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH Everyman's Library Edition

Everyman's Library is a series of reprinted classic literature, originally an imprint of J. M. Dent (latterly a division of Weidenfeld & Nicolson), who continue to publish Everyman Classics in paperback. J. M. Dent and Company began to publish the series in 1906. It was conceived in 1905 by London publisher Joseph Malaby Dent, whose goal was to create a 1,000 volume library of world literature that was affordable for, and that appealed to, every kind of person, from students to the working classes to the cultural elite. Dent followed the design principles and to a certain extent the style established by William Morris in his Kelmscott Press. Everyman's Library books were pocket-sized hardcovers that sold initially for what was then the remarkably low price of a shilling apiece. The original U.S. distribution rights were granted to New York City publishers, E. P. Dutton. Each book belonged to one of the following genres: Travel, Science, Fiction, Theology & Philosophy, History, Classical, For Young People, Essays, Oratory, Poetry & Drama, Biography, Reference, and Romance. The appropriate genre was printed inside and used to organize lists of the series issued from time to time The name of the publication series was suggested by poet and editor Ernest Rhys, who was named head editor of the series initially, and asked to find a suitable name to encompass Dent's goal. Rhys tried and discarded many ideas before recalling a quotation from the medieval play Everyman in which the character of Knowledge says to Everyman: Everyman, I will go with thee and be thy guide, In thy most need to go by thy side. This quotation appears on the title page of all Everyman's Library volumes.