One hundred years ago
CURRENT LITERATURE
A Lexical Concordance to the Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley. Compiled and arranged by F. S. Ellis. (B. Quar- itch.) — We hope, for the sake of the author, that the admirers of Shelley's poetry are more numerous than he thinks. "Outside the circle of professed students," he has "never met," he tells us, "with a single person who could lay claim to have read more than two or three of his most celebrated lyrics." We do not know what a "professed student" is; must he belong to a "Shelley Soci- ety," or is he permitted to enjoy the poet in his own study? The writer of this notice knows his Horace pretty well by heart, but never thought of calling him- self a "professed student" of Horace's poetry. And does Mr Ellis mean that, out of an uncertain number of "most celebrated lyrics," no one not a pro- fessed student had read more than two or three. It is ungracious, however, to carp at the most commendably brief and unassuming preface with which Mr Ellis introduces to the world this vast work, a great work indeed, and manifestly the outcome of a great love. His industry and enthusiasm are truly admirable.
The Spectator 4 June 1892
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