Illustrations of English Religion. Selected, edited, and arranged by Henry
Morley. (Cassell and Co.)—This volume may be regarded as sequel to one dealing with secular literature, which we noticed some time ago in these columns. It gives a biographical account of English writers from the earliest times, together with extracts from their works. Caedmon is the first writer who is thus dealt with. First we have Bede's account of him, and then an extract, rendered by Mr. Morley into modern English, of his "Paraphrase." From Caedmon we pass to- Adhelm, and from Adhelm to Bede, Alcnin, Cynewulf, dtc. The same plan is pursued through the following twelve centuries. The first chapter having taken the reader down to the Conquest, the second conducts him from the Conquest to Wiclif ; Wiclif and his contemporaries and fol- lowers occupy a chapter ; another is given to the fifteenth century, and to the era of the Reformation, in which the writers of both sides are" dealt with. Finally, the last chapter gives us an account of "Forty Years under Victoria," and speaks, among others, of Newman, Arnold, Maurice, Kingsley, and some, such as Mr.-Tennyson and Mr. Browning, whose connection with religions literature, though of the highest im- portance, is less direct. The book is enriched throughout with portraits, which add much to its interest. The spirit in which Professor Morley deals with his very diversified and difficult subject is all that could be desired, and this -volume makes a-most desirable addition to the library:
Previous page
