A TALE OF A TUB. By JONATHAN SWIFT. In One Vol. With Five Etchings
and Portrait by ED. HEDOUIN.
/SOME PRESS NOTICES./
Daily Telegraph.
"These editions are noteworthy as containing original etchings by
artists of high repute. Thus nineteen exquisite plates by the French
etcher, M. Lalauze, gives especial attractiveness to the 'Thousand
and One Nights;' and the two fanciful histories of the Caliph Vathek
and Prince Rasselas are illustrated by designs of Mr. A. H. Tourrier,
etched by M. Damman. It is a pleasure to hold a 'Robinson Crusoe' or
the 'Tale of a Tub' in one's hands; it is a positive luxury to read
those masterpieces in a luxurious shape, large print, on good paper,
accompanied by exquisite illustrations."
The Scotsman.
"These volumes will take rank, for beauty of typography and general
excellence of appearance, with any books of the kind that have
recently been published; while the etchings by M. Lalauze are among
some of the finest of his productions. They are full of vigour
and striking originality, and are what they profess to be--good
illustrations of the story to which they relate. There are not many
men of wholesome minds who do not find enjoyment in 'Robinson Crusoe'
whenever they can lay hands on it; and assuredly there is no one
possessing anything in the shape of a library who would not desire to
have a good edition of the work among his books; in short, nothing
but praise can be given to this edition of these books. No one can
pretend to be acquainted with English literature who is ignorant of
any of the works here published."
Glasgow Herald.
"The merits of this new issue lie in exquisite clearness of type,
completeness; notes and biographical notices, short and pithy, and
a number of very fine etchings and portraits. The illustrations of
Gulliver are particularly effective, such as the 'Academy of Laputa'
and the 'Visions of Glubbdubdrib.'"
London Figaro.
"We congratulate the publishers upon the issue of a capital series of
Old English Romances. They will form a most delightful collection."
Magazine of Art.
"The text of the new four volume edition of the 'Thousand and One
Nights' is that revised by Jonathan Scott from the French of Galland.
It is, in fact, the text in which the incomparable 'Arabian Nights'
became in England the classic it is. The etchings are uncommonly
skilful and finished work; they contain some charming figures; they
constitute a true attraction. In another volume of this series
Beckford's wild and gloomy 'Vathek' appears side by side with
Johnson's admirable 'Rasselas.'"
The Literary World.
"A publishers' notice prefixed to each volume states that 'one
thousand copies of this edition have been printed and the type
distributed. No more will be published.' Although some of these works
are now easily obtainable in a cheap form, good editions are rare and
eagerly sought by those who make any pretence of making a library.
Here is an opportunity of securing as choice an edition as can be
desired at a comparatively low price, the value of which will be
enhanced before long by its scarcity."
The Times.
"Prettily printed and prettily illustrated, these attractive volumes
deserve their welcome from all students of seventeenth century
literature."
The Daily News.
"The merit for modern readers of these old stories lies partly in
their inexhaustible wit, their knowledge of human nature, which
never grows stale, and partly in their pictures of the old reckless
life of Spain. A typical example of these novels is the fictitious
autobiography of Guzman d'Alfarache, the Spanish rogue, written by
Matthew Aleman at the beginning of the seventeenth century."
Daily Telegraph.
"A handy and beautiful edition, in twelve volumes, of the works of
the Spanish masters of romance calls for a word of acknowledgment
from all who desire to see the lights of foreign literature fitly
presented to the notice of English readers. We may say of this
edition of the immortal work of Cervantes, that it is most tastefully
and admirably executed, and that it is embellished with a series
of striking etchings from the pen of the Spanish artist, De Los
Rios. . . . Those who have already made acquaintance with these
masterpieces of exotic humour will need no encouragement to send them
once again to a fountain from which such pure enjoyment is to be
derived, and in so acceptable a shape as Messrs. Nimmo & Bain have
provided."
The Scotsman.
"What man of middle age is there, who has been a reader of books, who
does not look back with pleasure to his first acquaintance with 'Don
Quixote' or the 'Adventures of Gil Blas'? If he has been a wise man
of equal mind, he has gone further afield in these romances, and has
made acquaintance with 'Asmodeus,' 'The Bachelor of Salamanca,' and
other works of a like kind. They have been read by many thousands of
British readers, and they will be read by many thousands more. . . .
What the reading public have reason to congratulate themselves
upon is, that so neat, compact, and well-arranged an edition of
romances that can never die is put within their reach. The publishers
have spared no pains with them. It has already been said that Mr.
Saintsbury has written a prefatorial notice of Le Sage; a similar
work has been done by other hands in the case of Cervantes. It is
satisfactory to find publishers turning their attention to the
reproduction, in worthy form, of classic fiction; and the hope may be
entertained that in this case the enterprise will meet with merited
reward."
Westminster Review.
"We notice with warm welcome a new and very handsome illustrated
edition of the original 'Arabian Nights Entertainment,' the 'real
Simon pure,' and never have we seen the fascinating companion of our
youth more 'daintily dight.' Type and paper are both of the finest
quality, while M. Lalauze's graceful and delicate etchings lend
an additional charm to the text. 'The Thousand and One Nights of
Schéhérézade' occupy four goodly volumes, and uniform with them is
Beckford's 'Vathek' and Dr. Johnson's 'Rasselas' in one volume."
J. C. NIMMO & BAIN,
14, KING WILLIAM STREET, STRAND, LONDON, W.C.