Originally published in 1929, this book is comprised of a series of papers written for, and mostly read to, the Royal Society of Literature. The papers concern themselves with various aspects of life and literature during the 1870s, including novels, poetry, theatre, criticism and other areas. Edited by Harley Granville-Barker, the text contains notable contributions from figures such as Walter De La Mare and Vita Sackville-West. This is a highly readable book that will be of value to anyone with an interest in the 1870s, nineteenth-century literature and early twentieth-century literary criticism.