The Victorian age of English literature (Volume 2)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1892. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VII OF THE LATER HISTORIANS, BIOGRAPHERS, ESSAYISTS, ETC., AND OF THE PRESENT CONDITION OF LITERATURE It is by no means so easy a task to deal with writers who are either living, or, at any rate, have only lately gone from among us, as with those whose work belongs to a past generation. The immense increase in the number of the writers of the present day is alone sufficient to render the work more difficult, and we do not pretend to include all the books on any of the subjects we are dealing with. At the same time, it would be a most invidious duty were we called upon to measure out applause or censure to even the most eminent of living authors as We are able to do with those whose career is already closed and whose works can be reviewed as a whole. It will therefore be found that we have spoken at length only of dead writers, giving to the living such notice as is necessary to give a general idea of the scope and purpose of their work. The most eminent historical writers of our own time are for the most part still among us. Yet there are gaps, where some have been taken from the world, in the fulness of years, and others while yet in the prime of life. It is not many years since we had to lament the early death of one of the most brilliant historical writers of the time. John Richard Green was born in the year of Her Majesty's accession, and educated at Magdalen College School and Jesus College, Oxford. From his earliest youth he had delighted chiefly in historical studies, and showed his characteristic spirit of critical independence in an essay upon Charles I., whom the young writer, in spite of careful training in the straitest sect of middle-class Toryism, felt himself bound to pronounce against. Fortunately for himself, however, Green was no...