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PREFACE
In this little volume an attempt has been made to provide a companion to
an English history textbook, for the purpose of lending a greater
reality to some of the more important actors on the stage of Europe, who
in the ordinary textbooks must from limitations of space remain little
more than names.
It differs from some of its predecessors in being written with a view to
its use by rather older pupils, and from others in containing a smaller
amount of indigestible information. The author has endeavoured to keep
in mind the need for combining simplicity of style with the provision of
serious reading matter.
It has been constructed mainly, but, it is hoped, not slavishly, upon
the biographical method. No apology is made for the absence of
illustrations, since it is not possible to introduce into a book of this
nature a tithe of the number which would be required to effect any
useful purpose, and it is not the function of such a book to replace the
well-equipped teacher.
As it is to a considerable extent the product of experiments in handling
the subject at Osborne, the author is conscious that the greater part of
any merit that it may possess is owing to his colleagues. He is indebted
also to Mr. W. F. Reddaway, of King's College, Cambridge, for revising
the proofs.
Osborne, 1911. |
