Norwood Press
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* * * * PREFACE These selections from the poetry of Robert Browning have been madewith especial reference to the tastes and capacities of readers of thehigh-school age. Every poem included has been found by experience tobe within the grasp of boys and girls. Most of Browning's best poetryis within the ken of any reader of imagination and diligence. To thereader who lacks these, not only Browning, but the great world ofliterature, remains closed: Browning is not the only poet who requiresclose study. The difficulties he offers are, in his best poems, notmore repellent to the thoughtful reader than the nut that protects andcontains the kernel. To a boy or girl of active mind, the difficultyneed rarely be more than a pleasant challenge to the exercise of alittle patience and ingenuity. Browning, when at his best in vigor, clearness, and beauty, ispeculiarly a poet for young people. His freedom from sentimentality,his liveliness of conception and narration, his high optimism, and hisinterest in the things that make for the life of the soul, appeal tothe imagination and the feelings of youth. The present edition, attempts but little in the way of criticism. Thenotes cover such matters as are not readily settled by an appeal tothe dictionary, and suggest, in addition, questions that are designedto help in interpretation and appreciation. TEACHERS' COLLEGE, NEW YORK, _July_, 1899. CONTENTS LIFE OF BROWNINGBROWNING AS POETAPPRECIATIONSCHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF BROWNING'S WORKSBIBLIOGRAPHY The Pied Piper of HamelinTrayIncident of the French Camp"How they brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix"Herve RielPheidippidesMy StarEvelyn HopeLove among the RuinsMisconceptionsNatural MagicApparitionsA WallConfessionsA Woman's Last WordA Pretty WomanYouth and ArtA TaleCavalier TunesHome-Thoughts, from the SeaSummum BonumA FaceSongs from Pippa PassesThe Lost LeaderApparent FailureFears and ScruplesInstans TyrannusThe PatriotThe Boy and the AngelMemorabiliaWhy I am a LiberalProspiceEpilogue to "Asolando""De Gustibus--"The Italian in EnglandMy Last DuchessThe Bishop Orders his Tomb at Saint Praxed's ChurchThe LaboratoryHome Thoughts, from AbroadUp at a Villa--Down in the CityA Toccata of Galuppi'sAbt VoglerRabbi Ben EzraA Grammarian's FuneralAndrea del SartoCaliban upon Setebos"Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came"An EpistleSaulOne Word More
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