PREFACE

of system and impatience of restraint, most of them are poorly composed or not composed at all. He attributed greater value to o-ther qualities than to consistency and unity. A fervent admirer of Greece, he exemplifies in his works the Hellenic blending of the quest of truth and the love of beauty. The quest of truth leads him to a sort of fine realism. In all his books fancy plays about his subjects, a graceful fancy rich in memories of literature and art. From memory, from fancy, from direct observation of life, are born his characters, a distinguished collection, though, on account of his omnipresent subjectivity, not comparable to the creations of the greatest masters. His style, polished, delicate, luminous, harmonious, apparently simple but really subtle and complex, ranks with that of the greatest stylists.

Anatole France is perhaps at his best in the short story and the nouvelle, where both his intellectual and his imaginative qualities are well displayed. It is hoped that the present collection of stories, by their charm and their thoughtful appeal, will interest both younger and more advanced students. The younger student will be interested in the simple narrative, in the elements of adventure and humor; the advanced student will appreciate the stimulating thought that underlies even the simplest tale of Anatole France. For the aid of the former class, adequate notes, a very full vocabulary, and exercises including conversation, discussion, composition, and grammatical drill, have been appended. The text has been expurgated in several places, for school use.

The editor wishes to express his gratitude to the friends who have aided him in various ways in the preparation of this edition.