Prefaces and Prologues to Famous Books with Introductions, Notes and Illustrations by Charles W. Eliot is an anthology of literary gems by famous writers. It contains prefatory prose and criticism by Dryden, Wordsworth, Hugo, and others. Dr. Johnson's Preface to his great Dictionary, Walt Whitman's Preface to Leaves of Grass and other great introductory pieces by Spenser, Raleigh, Bacon, Newton, Dryden, and Fielding are included.

Each of the prefaces and prologues in this volume is a complete work of literature unto itself, offering a unique insight to the thoughts of its author.