A Short History of English Literature, Vol. 1 (Hardbound - 2020)

Professor of English Literature of King’s College, London observes thus: “This is an extremely bold and far-reaching attempt at a comprehensive theory of poetry. There is evidence everywhere of extensive learning and of acute and sensitive literary mind. The author draws with equal ease on Indian poetics and on English and European literature, aesthetics and philosophy. The candidate stands very much in the tradition of that manner of thinking which may be associated with I.A. Richards, of whom he is no unworthy follower.

This is not an easy thesis on which to pass judgment. I am impressed and convinced by the distinction of mind and the continuity of thought. I believe, it is worthy of the highest doctoral degree, if that is now D.Litt. should be described and therefore of publication.”

George Edward Bateman Saintsbury (1845-1933), a man of enormous reading, profound scholarship, fine critical insight and literary sensibility, was Professor of Rhetoric and English Literature in the University of Edinburgh from 1895 to 1915. The bulk and scope of his writings is simply stupefying. A reprint of his work would easily make 100 large volumes.

In addition to the various scholarly articles that he contributed to illustrious journals such as Fortnightly Review, Pall Mall Gazette, Manchester Guardian, Saturday Review and many other journals, his important works on French literature are: A Primer of French Literature (1880), A Short History of French Literature (1883), Specimens of French Literature from Villon to Hugo (1883), A History of the French Novel to the Close of the Nineteenth Century (1917-19).

Saintsbury’s major works on English Literature and on the history of criticism are Dryden (1881), Essays on English Literature, 1780-1860 (two series, 1890 and 1895), A Short History of English Literature (1898), The History of English Criticism and Literary Taste in Europe (1900-4) in three volumes, A History of English Prosody (1906-10) in three volumes, Sir Walter Scott (1897), Matthew Arnold (1898), the Oxford edition of the Works of Thackeray (1907), The English Novel (1913), and The Peace of the Augustans (1915).

In addition to the above, Saintsbury contributed 21 chapters to The Cambridge History of English Literature and wrote 36 articles for the Encyclopædia Britannica. Saintsbury was also a great connoisseur of wine and his Notes on a Cellar book (1920), a classic of its kind, led to the founding of the Saintsbury Club. As a critic and literary historian Saintsbury’s position is very high indeed.