WHY WE SHOULD READ----
_BY THE SAME AUTHOR_
A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN WAR TIME
APRIL'S LONELY SOLDIER
INTERLUDE
REBELLION
FROM SHAKESPEARE TO O. HENRY
THE EDUCATION OF A PHILANDERER
BOOKS AND THEIR WRITERS
LOVERS OF SILVER
A SCHOOLMASTER'S DIARY
UNCLE LIONEL
COLOUR-BLIND
EDUCATIONAL
A SCHOOL SHAKESPEARE (in 18 vols.)
AN ENGLISH COURSE FOR ARMY CANDIDATES
AN ENGLISH COURSE FOR SCHOOLS
SEVEN PLAYS OF SHAKESPEARE FOR SCHOOLS (in 1 vol.)
AN ENGLISH COURSE FOR EVERYBODY
WHY WE SHOULD
READ----
BY
S. P. B. MAIS
_Author of
"Books and Their Writers"_
[Illustration]
"_He who first praises a book becomingly is
next in merit to the author_"
W. S. LANDOR
LONDON
GRANT RICHARDS LTD.
ST MARTIN'S STREET
1921
PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY THE RIVERSIDE PRESS LIMITED
EDINBURGH
TO
MY WIFE
CONTENTS
PAGE
INTRODUCTION 9
PART I: SOME ENGLISH CLASSICS
I. _TOM JONES_ 15
II. _WUTHERING HEIGHTS_ 25
III. CHARLES LAMB 32
IV. JAMES BOSWELL 35
V. WILLIAM HAZLITT 38
VI. SAMUEL PEPYS 41
VII. WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR 44
VIII. JOHN DONNE 51
IX. SUCH A BOOK AS _THE BEGGAR'S OPERA_ 58