maintain, we are to some extent educated historically, using the
word in a large though perfectly legitimate sense.

I recently read a work which here presents itself as admirably
illustrating my meaning.  In her too little known "Adventures of a
Goldsmith" Miss M. H. Bourchier has contrived to bring forcibly
before us the period when Napoleon, fast approaching the zenith of
his power, was known in France as the "First Consul."  The "man of
destiny" himself--appearing on the scene for little more than a
brief moment--can in no sense be described as one of the book's
characters, and yet the whole plot is so skilfully contrived as to
hinge on his personality.  We are made to feel the dominating
influence of that powerful will upon the fears and hopes of a time
brimming over with revolutionary movement.  Whether the Chouan
revolt is in this particular story accurately depicted for us in
all its phases, or whether the motives which impelled certain
public characters are therein interpreted aright--both in regard to
these and other points there may be room for doubt, but at least
the general forces of the period are placed before us in such a way
as to drive home the conviction that, be the historical
inaccuracies of detail what they may in the eyes of this or that
specialist, the picture as a whole is one which, while it rivets
our attention as lovers of romance, does no injury to the strictest
Historic sense.

I know well that numerous novels might be cited which, besides
abounding in anachronisms, are harmful in that they present us with
a misleading conception of some personality or period; moreover, I
acknowledge that this defect is by no means confined to romances of
an inferior literary order.  That Cromwell has been unreasonably
vilified, and Mary Queen of Scots misconceived as a saintly martyr--
how often are these charges brought against not a few of our
leading exponents of Historical Fiction.  Let this be fully
granted, it remains to ask--To whom were our novelists originally
indebted for these misconceptions?  Were not the historians of an
earlier generation responsible for these wrong judgments?  True,
the real Science of History--the sifting of evidence, and the
discovery and unravelling of ancient documents--may be described as
an essentially modern attainment, so it would be unreasonable to
blame our older historians for errors which it was largely, if not
wholly, beyond their power to overcome.  And it is just here that I
would emphasise my defence of the Romancist.  If Historians
themselves have differed (and still differ)! may it not be pleaded
on behalf of the Historical Novelist that he also must be judged
according to the possibilities of his time?  For, while he may have
too readily adopted false conceptions in the past, there is no
necessity why, in the future, he also--profiting by the growth of
Critical investigation--should not have due regard, in the working
out of his Historical background, for all the latest "results."
And, I would further add, even though it be true that Scott and
others have misled us in certain directions, this does not prevent
our acknowledgment that, given their aspect of a particular period,
it was only fitting that the scheme of their novels should be in
harmony with it.  If "Bloody Mary" was a cruel hypocrite, then our
reading of her period will be influenced by that real (or supposed)
fact; but, if further investigation reverses this severe judgment
on the woman herself, then, in Heaven's name, let us mould our
general conception afresh.  The fountains of Romance show no sign
of running dry, and, though we may look in vain at the moment for a
genius of the very highest type, the Future has possibilities
within it which the greatest literary pessimist among us cannot
wholly deny.  If, then, fault can be found with the older
Romancists for the spreading here and there of false historical
notions, let us look to future workers in the same sphere for
adjustment.  I believe, however, that one notable critic has
pronounced the mischief already done to be quite irreparable,
seeing that the only "History" at all widely spread is that derived
from those very romances in which errors are so interwoven with the
sentimental interest of the plot itself that readers inevitably
"hug their delusions!"  But I think that this danger need not be
contemplated seriously.  The Historical Novel exists primarily as
Fiction, and, even though in our waking moments we may be persuaded
of the unreality of that "dream" which a Scott or a Dumas has
produced for us, we shall still be able to place ourselves again
and again under the spell of their delightful influence.  Moreover,
while admitting Dumas' carelessness of exact detail, it would
hardly be contended by the most sceptical that his works (still
less those of Scott) are without any background of Historic
suggestiveness.  Scott, indeed, shows signs of having possessed
something of that "detachment" which is one important qualification
in the Historian proper; there is a fairness and prevision in his
historical judgments which we look for in vain when reading the
works of his contemporaries.

And, having thus touched on what I believe to be the true relation
between Romance and History, I may note, as a last word, the use of
the Historical Tale to those who have the training of young folk.
That "desire to know," which is an essential for all true learning,
is sometimes best fostered by methods outside the ordinary School
routine.  Thus, as regards History, where the text-book fails in
arousing interest, the tale may succeed, and, once the spirit of
inquiry has been stimulated, half the battle is gained.  In saying
this I am far from wishing to imply that the reading of romances
can ever take the place of genuine historical study.  I know well
that such a book as Green's "Short History of the English People"
may prove to some more fascinating than any novel.  There are,
however, cases in which recourse may be had to a high-class work of
fiction for the attainment of a truer historic sense; while, taken
only as supplement to more strictly Academic reading, such a work
may prove to have its uses.  Considerable discrimination is
required--as I have already hinted--in the choice of suitable
books, and, as a help in this direction, I have made out (vide
"Suggested courses of Reading" at the end of this volume) two
special lists for Boys and Girls respectively, which will, I trust,
be found useful.  If, besides being of help to teachers, my
recommendations should lead in any degree to further appreciation
of the great masters of Romance, the labour (by no means
inconsiderable) expended on this little compilation will be amply
rewarded.

J. N.

January, 1902.

NOTE--the order in which the books are placed is, on the whole,
according to the periods dealt with; occasionally the grouping
decided on has prevented absolute correctness in this respect.

PRE-CHRISTIAN ERA.

SARCHEDON -- G. J. Whyte Melville
Ancient Babylon and the Assyrians
W. Thacker & Co., and Ward, Lock, & Co.

UARDA -- Georg Ebers (trans.)
Egypt--Rameses Sesostris
Sampson Low & Co.

ZOROASTER -- F. Marion Crawford
Zoroaster, the Persian Religious Reformer
Macmillan & Co.

AN EGYPTIAN PRINCESS -- Georg Ebers (trans.)
Egypt--Amasis and Cambyses, 6th Century B. C.
Sampson Low & Co.

THE FALL OF ATHENS -- A. J. Church
Peloponnesian War
Seeley & Co.

A YOUNG MACEDONIAN -- A. J. Church
Alexander the Great
Seeley & Co.

SALAMMBO -- Gustave Flaubert (trans.)
Rome versus Carthage
G. P. Putnam's Sons, and Grant Richards

THE LION'S BROOD -- Duffield Osborne
Rome versus Carthage
W. Heinemann

LORDS OF THE WORLD -- A. J. Church
Rome versus Carthage.
Blackie & Son

THE SISTERS -- Georg Ehers (trans.)
Egypt--Ptolemy Philometer, and Euergetes
Sampson Low & Co.

THE HAMMER -- A. J. Church and R. Seeley
Maccabaean Times
Seeley & Co.

DEBORAH -- J. M. Ludlow
Maccabaean Times
J. Nisbet & Co.

HELON'S PILGRIMAGE TO JERUSALEM -- F. Strauss (trans.)
Judaism in the Century preceding Christ
J. Mawman, London, 1824

PRUSIAS -- Ernst Eckstein (trans.)
The Slave Revolt under Spartacus.
Trubner & Co.

TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO -- A. J. Church
Rome--Spartacus and Mithridates
Blackie & Son

WOE TO THE CONQUERED -- Alfred Clark
Roman Life, B. C. 73-71
Sampson Low & Co.

A FRIEND OF CAESAR -- W. S. Davis
Pompey and Caesar
Macmillan & Co.

CLEOPATRA -- Georg Ebers (trans.)
Latter Years of Cleopatra.
Sampson Low & Co.

FIRST CENTURY A.D.

NEAERA -- John W. Graham
Rome under Tiberius (A. D. 26)
Macmillan & Co.

PHILOCHRISTUS -- Anonymous
Memoirs of a Disciple of Christ