Publishers’ Circular (1880-1890), 31st December 1886, Edition 1 of 1, Page 1723, Dec 31 , 1886 The Publishers' Circular I...

THE MERMAID SERIES . ' I lie and dream of your full Mermaid wine . '—Master Francis Beaumont to Ben Jonsokt . AN UNEXPURGATED EDITION or THE BEST PLAYS OP THE OLD DRAMATISTS . Under the General Editorship of HAYELOCK ELLIS . ; In Half-crown Monthly Vols . post with 8 vo cut . each or uncut vol . containing edes . 400 pages , "bound , in cloth , g A LTHOUGrH a strong and increasing interest is felt to-day in the great Elizabethan dramatists who JjL are grouped around Shakspere , no satisfactory attempt has hitherto been made to bring their works before the public in a really popular manner . With the exception of such monumental and for most readers inaccessible editions as those of Dyce and Bullen , they have either been neglected or brought out in a mutilated and inadequate form . Some of the most delightful of them , such as Middleton and Thomas Hey wood , and even Beaumont and Fletcher , are closed to all , save the few , and none of them are obtainable in satisfactory editions at moderate prices . In the Mermaid Series it is proposed constitute to the issue chief the contribution finest exam of ples the of English the Elizabethan spirit to the Drama literature , those of which th « " , world with . Shakspere ' s works , The Mermaid Sehies will appear in half-crown monthly volumes , two of which will be published at the end of January . The Editors who hare given their assistance tp the undertaking include men " of literary eminence , who have already distinguished themselves in this field , as well as younger writers of ability . The first volume will contain a general introduction by Mr . J . A . Symonds , dealing with the Elizabethan Drama generally , as the chief expression of English national life at one of its points Each of greatest volume power will contain and expansion on an average . Five Complete Plays , prefaced by an Introductory Notice of the Author . Great care will be taken to ensure , by consultation among the Editors , that the Plays selected are in every case the best and most representative—and not the most conventional , or those which have lived on a merely accidental and traditional reputation . A feature will be made of Plays 1 b of y the little Editors -known will writers be which sufficient , alth guarantee ough often for so the admirable quality , are of the now selection almost . inaccessible In every . instance The names tihe utmost pains will be taken to secure the best text , the spelling will be modernised , and brief but adequate In no notes case will will be the supp Play lied s undergo . any process of expurgation . It is believed that , although they may sometimes run counter to what is called modern taste , the free and splendid energy of Elizabethan art , with its extreme realism and its extreme idealism — embodying , as it does , the best traditions of the Eng Carefull lish Drama y etched —will Portrait not suffer s of those from Dramatibts the frankest of representation whom authentic . portraits exist will be given as frontispieces to the various volumes , and every pains will be taken to ensure typographical accuracy and excellence , and to produce the series in a satisfactory manner in every respect . The following is the approximate <) r < le > r of J * iiblicutlon : — - MARXOWE . Edited by Havxjlock Biaab . With a SHIRLEY . Edited by Edmund Gossb . General Introduction by J . A . Symonds . ARDEN OF FEVERSHAMand other Plays attri-MASSINGER . Edited by Arthur Symonh . buted to Shakspere . , Edited by Arthuh Symons . MIDDLETON . With an Introduction by A . C . Swinburne . THOMAS HEY WOOD . Edited by J . A . Symonds . DEKKER . Edited by Ernkst Rhys . FORD- Edited by Ha \ tbix ) CK Eljlib . BEAUMONT and FLETCHER ( 2 vola . ) . Edited by OTWAY . Edited by the Hon . Rodin Noel . J . St . Lob 6 trachey . To be followed by BEN JONSON ( 1 vol « . ) , CHAPMAN . WEBSTER and CYRIL TOURNEUR . Edited by MARSTON , WILLIAM ROWLEY and FIELD , J . A . Symondb . DRYDEN , LEE , CONGREVE , & c . VIZETELLY & CO ., 42 Catherine Street , Strand .

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Dec 31 , 1886 The Publishers' Circular I...