rors, The Shaving of
Shagpat_--Description in detail of these books, and their purposes. If
possible, indicate any characters supposed to be from life.

BOOKS TO CONSULT--E. J. Bailey: The Novels of George Meredith. Mrs.
M. D. Henderson: George Meredith, Novelist, Poet, Reformer. R. Le
Gallienne: George Meredith, Some Characteristics. J. W. Beach: The Comic
Spirit on George Meredith.

Have a brief paper on George Meredith as a poet and the various
estimates of his poetry by literary critics; read from some of the
best-known poems. Indicate Meredith's relation to the Feminist Movement.
Look up in the magazines published at the time of his death something
about his manuscripts and how he disposed of them.

CHAPTER XV

ENGLISH NOVELISTS OF TO-DAY

INTRODUCTION

There is at the present day a more than usually interesting group of
writers in England. Their personality is delightful, and their point of
view is eminently modern, full of the spirit of the times. The material
for study must be gleaned largely from magazine articles, and by looking
over the files of such publications as the _Review of Reviews_, the
_Literary Digest_, the _Outlook_, and the _Bookman_, there will be found
sketches of the lives and work of all those given here. In addition the
New International Encyclopaedia has biographical sketches, and Poole's
Index and other reference books at a public library will direct to more
material.

All programs on these authors should be arranged in four parts: first,
the life of the author, as full as may be, with sketches of his
experiences, his home circle, his friends, his methods of work; second,
a criticism of his writing, his style, his mannerisms, the general trend
of his ideas, and some mention of his place among writers; third,
readings from several of his books; and fourth, a discussion of his
characters by the club members.

In place of one of these topics, some clubs may prefer a paper showing
the change in the author's methods and style, based on a comparison of
his earlier and later writings.

I--THOMAS HARDY

Thomas Hardy was born in Dorsetshire in 1840, and educated to be an
architect. It was as a rebuilder of old churches that he became an
antiquarian and then a student of rural types, since his work took him
to country districts. His own county lives in his books under the name
of Wessex, and the people he draws are taken from life. He has a
sympathetic touch in dealing with th