Essays and Reflections

Harold Child (1869?1945) was a literary critic and writer who was prominent in the development of dramatic criticism, notably in his work on the history of Shakespearean production. Originally published in 1948, this collection appeared shortly after Child's death, and contains a memoir by noted Cambridge publisher Sir Sydney Castle Roberts (1887?1966). The text presents a broad selection of Child's writings, including everything from critical essays to informal pieces on topics such as 'Reading in Bed', exhibiting his lucid and engaging style. This is a highly readable book which will be of value to anyone with an interest in the works of Child, journalism and literary criticism.

Memoir S. C. Roberts; Part I. Critical Essays: 1. The triumph of Ben Jonson; 2. The mystery of Yeats; 3. Mr de la Mare's world; 4. Leigh Hunt and his work; 5. Anthony Trollope; 6. Some story-tellers; 7. Stevenson after fifty years; 8. Adventures of a novel; 9. What happens in Hamlet; 10. John Fletcher; 11. Thomas Dekker and the underdog; 12. William Congreve; 13. J. M. Barrie as dramatist; Part II. Christmas Reflections: 14. The good life - thoughts for Christmas; 15. Of ivory towers; 16. The age of gold; Part III. Ephemera: 17. The hotel that moved; 18. A hill-top lunch; 19. Tropical fauna: a tiger, a rabbit, and others; 20. Three passes; 21. The real Mrs Beeton; 22. Meals in the train; 23. La créatrice de camenbert; 24. Metaphorically speaking; 25. Tailors and men; 26. Scientific comfort; 27. The future of cartophily; 28. Holiday reading; 29. Reading in bed; 30. The decay of the music-hall; 31. What is France; 32. Courage to believe.