A Century Of French Poets, Being A Selection Illustrating The History Of French Poetry During The Last Hundred Years

A Century Of French Poets, Being A Selection Illustrating The History Of French Poetry During The Last Hundred Years, by FRANCIS YVON ECCLES. PREFACE THIS book has been a long while making for a task not apparently so arduous. It was more than once laid down and taken up again, at long intervals, arid no doubt the result on this account and others will show disparity and incoherence. My choice of French poetry was already settled-but for about a dozen pieces added since-when the very liberal Anthology of 81. WaIch, Les Poktm Comtenz- pmaina, appeared, which with its supplementary volume, devoted to the earlier part of the last century, covers the whole of the same period. A good many of the poems I had selected may be read there but I did not think it necessary to modify my list in consequence, becsuse this is a compilation intended for English readers and accompanied by whatever I could offer as a help to their enjoyment. Though a fair proportion of the very finest French verse written in the century, as far as I can judge, is included there is so much else of interest coming far short of that superlative that I mould rathor call this a...