PREFACE

This extract of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables — it is Book Second of Part First — recommended itself for a separate édition partly because it stands by itself as an independent and well-rounded whole, and partly because it is unusually interesting reading, but above ail, because it is strikingly characteristic of Victor Hugo^s thought and style, and therefore highly instructive as a literary study. It is surprising how much thèse four-score pages reveal of their author, what a clear-cut profile they présent of him, and how well they thus fulfil the highest requisite of représentative prose. Can this latter excellence ever be rated too highly in books destined to serve as basis for a course in literature ?

The notes, though not copions, will be found sufficient to meet the wants of those who are famiiiar with grammar and with the more common idioms, and it is for this class of students that they were written.

The author's thanks are due to Professor E. S. Joynes of South

Carolina, Professor G. M. Harper of Princeton Collège, and to Mr.

S. Willard Clary of Boston for the valued suggestions which they

made after reading the manuscript.