Outline of Literature* It Slips Down the Throat as Easy as Junket

The Story. Outlines-- of History -- of Science -- of Art large, impressive looking books -- copiously illustrated -- well printed -- mental bouillon cubes for an age that takes its information like its breakfast cereal, on the run, and, if possible, predigested -- another century may find, perhaps, the whole scope of human knowledge boiled down and salted away in one magnificent, laconic Outline of Outlines, supplanting colleges and five-foot shelves alike. At any rate, here is the first volume of The Outline of Literature -- 294 pages covering the rise and progress of human letters from the first books in the world to the age of Spenser. The corpse has been neatly dissected; every large muscle stands out.

The previous paragraph is, of course, quite unfair. In what it attempts to do The Outline of Literature is highly successful. Its pages, simple, succinct, easy to read, should give anyone with a modicum of intelligence a good, general, working idea of the entire, fantastic progression of the written word from the first rude scratchings on rocks to the beginnings of the Elizabethan era. Its frequent quotations should inspire in its readers a desire to turn from it to the masterpieces with which it deals. The Bible is well treated, and from a modern viewpoint. Each chapter is followed by an intelligent bibliography. The individual estimates of authors in general avoid the irrelevant. The illustrations are for the most part well chosen. The whole slips down the throat as easily as junket. And if at times the book unavoidably reminds one of a somewhat hurried torchlight procession of famous literary figures -- that is doubtless unavoidable. Considering what was attempted it is really extraordinary that what has been done should have been done so well.

Moreover -- and this must be to its credit as a text-book -- the author suppresses his personal views throughout with rather uncanny skill. No interesting prejudices mar the smooth uniformity of a text as flowing and clear and lacking in depth and shadings as a single straight line of ink drawn across white paper.

The Significance. The theoretical man in the street will find the Outline an easy and informative introduction to the best that has been written in every language. It will not educate the uneducated nor furnish, in itself, a royal road to learning, but within its scope it is valuable and, as far as space allows, complete. Readably written, though without any touch of distinction, its obvious merits should bring it wide and deserved popularity. It will set no mind afire, in all probability--but then, the most valuable mental eruptions are generally produced by spontaneous combustion.

The Critics. The New York Times : "The Outline is strongly conceived, with an imaginative historic grasp."

The Argonaut : " Just a little too patently ' written down ' to meet moron intellects."

The New York Herald: " Condensation has at times approached a vacuum."

The Author. John Drinkwater, ex-insurance clerk, poet, essayist, one of the founders of the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, is probably best known to America as the author of Abraham Lincoln -- a play which, in spite of a few minor Briticisms in the original version, remains one of the most faithful and interesting literary portrayals of the rail-splitter President. Mary Stuart and Oliver Cromwell are not as successful as Abraham Lincoln, but in his latest play, Robert E. Lee, Mr. Drinkwater has apparently again struck the bell of success. Robert E. Lee is now running in London and will probably be produced in New York this Winter.

* THE OUTLINE OF LITERATURE, VOL 1-- John Drinkwater--Putnam ($4.50).