Some years before his death Browning promised to leave the _Old Yellow
Book_, together with other books and manuscripts, to Balliol College,
Oxford, and his son carried out the promise soon after the poet's
decease. The Carnegie Institution of Washington, D. C., has reproduced
the entire book in photo-facsimile, with translation and editing by
Charles W. Hodell. The Publishers gratefully acknowledge the kindness
and generosity of the Institution in allowing the translation of the
_Yellow Book_ to be reproduced in the present volume. They have also
to acknowledge their indebtedness to Professor Hodell for the courtesy
he has shown, and the great help he has given in editing these
volumes. Hitherto the work has been practically inaccessible to
British readers, and in its new dress it is hoped it will be found
invaluable in interpreting the greatest work of Robert Browning.