Excerpt from Tables of European History, Literature, Science, and Art, From A. D. 200 to 1888; And of American History, Literature, and Art V. An attempt has been made to indicate the importance of the author, potentate, or event by the size of the type. The accuracy of the judgment in this case must remain matter of Opinion. I am responsible in the columns of History and Litera ture my better informed Coadjutors in those of Science and Art. In the last two European Tables, largely concerned with contemporaries, a distinction which might be invidious has been abandoned, and all living writers or artists are printed in the same ordinary type. A rule has been made to include only those whose reputation has been established for at least ten years. In crowded departments of literature, as Romance, only representative names have been selected. A few are inserted rather in deference to popular judgment than in accordance with my own estimate. VI. Several names being repeated, sometimes at no great intervals, it has been considered essential to the pictorial representation aimed at, to distinguish by different colours, those associated with different nations. Practical obstacles have restricted the application of this rule; but it is hoped that the result will, even by the appear ance of the pages, convey some indication of the historic issues at stake. VII. When a writer has been very prominent in two departments, as of Science and Philosophy, or Literature and Art, as in the case of Leonardo da Vinci, Leibnitz, Descartes, and Pascal, his name appears in two columns. When his eminence in one eclipses that of his reputation in another, he appears, as in the case of Bacon and Galileo, only in that where he was pre - eminent. In rare instances a great name has been inserted, Slightly out of its exact place, at the head of the period which the author's influence seems to have dominated. The reception of the earlier editions has made me sensible at once of the utility of an undertaking, involving an amount of labour only inferior to that of compiling a dictionary, and of the hazards to which it is exposed. To many of my critics I am indebted for corrections of mistakes almost inevitable, and for supplying sometimes serious omissions. Others have made of an obviously rapid survey occasion to air crotchets, as that which regards it as a crime to speak of Ancient History, or of Charlemagne. It seems needful to state that the phrase English Literature here signifies Literature originating in England, and that in power indicates the period of a politician's greatest influence, in or out of office. To avoid cavil I now append the dates of the chief Prime Ministers, with the protest that I can only record the Chief. For details which, as expressly stated, are excluded from the design of the work, I refer my readers to the Annual Register. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from Leading Figures in European History There are many people who, while genuinely interested in history, have never, either from want of time or opportunity, read a consecutive history of Europe. They have a general idea of certain periods like the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the Revolution. With these epochs they connect the names of certain great men which are practically on everybody's lips: but, when they come to think about it, they find they have a very shadowy idea of their lives and characters. It was suggested to me that here lay a want which might be supplied by means of a book containing a series of biographies which more or less covered the whole of European history. Consequently, in writing this book my object has been to present to the general reader, and to the student busily engaged with other subjects, a succession of sketches of the leading figures of the past, illustrating the growth of ideas and principles which have contributed to form present-day Europe. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.