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"One of the most notable and attractive forms of English Literature is the essay. In his introduction to this selection, first made for Pelican in 1942 and now enlarged and reprinted, Sir William Emrys Williams points out that the Essay, ‘has a multitude of forms and manners, and scarcely any rules and regulations.’ Although many of the pieces chosen for this volume are such well-known ones as Charles Lamb’s ‘In Praise of Chimney Sweepers’ or De Quincy’s memorable commentary on an episode in ‘Macbeth’, an endeavour has been made to remind readers that Addison, for example, wrote other and better essays than the few which are usually included in anthologies. Modern writers such as Hilaire Belloc, JB Priestly, Aldous Huxley, Robert Lynd, Ivor Brown, Harold Nicholson. EV Lucas, and VS Pritchett are given a fair share of representation."

"One of the most notable and attractive forms of English Literature is the essay. In his introduction to this selection, first made for Pelican in 1942 and now enlarged and reprinted, Sir William Emrys Williams points out that the Essay, ‘has a multitude of forms and manners, and scarcely any rules and regulations.’ Although many of the pieces chosen for this volume are such well-known ones as Charles Lamb’s ‘In Praise of Chimney Sweepers’ or De Quincy’s memorable commentary on an episode in ‘Macbeth’, an endeavour has been made to remind readers that Addison, for example, wrote other and better...  Read More