_OPINIONS OF THE PRESS_
“The compilers have taken a sensible view of their functions. They
give a sufficiency of statutes and documents; but they have been more
particularly at pains to unearth narratives, character-sketches, and
passages of satire or argument. They aim at stimulating the imagination
and at provoking discussion. Teachers will be grateful to them for
avoiding hackneyed material; and it will indeed be an expert who
browses in either of these volumes without finding that his attention
is called to unfamiliar but most attractive sources of information. For
our own part, we have been incited by Mr. Bell to look up Bradford’s
‘History of Plymouth Plantation,’ and by Mr. Perrett to send for the
‘Lives of the Norths.’ These volumes are just of the right length. They
contain a hundred and twenty pages apiece, which is about what the
intelligent school-boy may be expected to assimilate in the course of
one term. And each relates to a period of manageable proportions--the
sort of period that is set for a ‘Local’ or a ‘Certificate’ examination
as a special subject. It would be difficult for a school-boy,
however willing, to work over the whole of English history with the
deliberation which the use of such a source-book implies. But the
occasional study of a short period on these lines is essential if
history is to be made a living subject. The series that Messrs. Bell
are preparing will give to teachers the widest possible range of
choice; for it will contain twenty volumes, the first dealing with
Roman Britain and the last with the years 1901-1912.... Each volume
will be a capital shilling’s worth.”--_Manchester Guardian._
“Must make the study of history infinitely easier both for teacher and
pupil, and infinitely more interesting.”--_Spectator._
“Will make the history lesson a real pleasure to the
scholar.”--_Educational News._
“As incentives to greater interest in history, they cannot fail to be
most useful both to teacher and student.”--_Athenæum._
“Every secondary school should have the series in use.”--_Education._