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Magic Songs of the West Finns, Vol. I, by John Abercromby, [1898], at sacred-texts.com

p. 365

The following contemporary advertisements are included for completeness—JBH.

THE GRIMM LIBRARY

A Series of Folk-Lore Monographs under the general editorship of Mr. ALFRED NUTT. In crown 8vo volumes, elegantly printed at the Constable Press, on laid paper, half-bound in art linen, edges uncut. Limited issue.

GEORGIAN FOLK-TALES. Translated by MARJORY WARDROP. Pp. xii +175. 5s. net.

THE LEGEND OF PERSEUS. By EDWIN SIDNEY HARTLAND, FṢ.A.

THE VOYAGE OF BRAN, SON OF FEBAL. Edited by KUNO MEYER. With Essays upon the Happy Otherworld in Irish Myth, and upon the Celtic Doctrine of Rebirth, by ALFRED NUTT.

THE LEGEND OF SIR GAWAIN. Studies upon its Original Scope and Significance, by JESSIE L. WESTON. Pp. xiv + 117. 4s. net.

[TURN OVER

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The volumes hitherto issued in the Grimm Library have been cordially welcomed alike by folk-lore students and by the most representative organs of the general press.

The following expressions of opinion may be cited:—

Concerning MR. HARTLAND'S 'LEGEND OF PERSEUS.'

The Antiquary.—'Folk-lore, treated as it is in the scientific method employed in the present work, is raised at once to a high level of importance, and is full of possibilities in the near future.'

The Athenaeum.—'A notable study in the early psychological history of man.'

The Academy.—'There will be agreement as to the skill with which he has disentangled a mass of valuable material.'

The Manchester Guardian.—'A book that no one interested in the early history of religion in folk-lore or in anthropology can safely neglect. Probably the best book touching the study of folk-lore—that is, on the growth and development of primitive human ideas—published since the "Golden Bough."'

The Westminster Gazette.—'Mr. Frazer's "Golden Bough" began a new epoch in the modern treatment of mythology. . . . Mr. Hartland is one of our most learned and competent workers in this novel field, and he ably follows Mr. Frazer's footsteps.'

The Nation (New York).—'A most scholarly and fascinating work. Those who have not followed the progress of similar investigations will be startled by its suggestiveness.'

The Speaker.—'Mr. Hartland writes with a scholar's modesty and a scholar's ease.'

The Literary World.—'We can find nothing but praise for this able and systematic inquiry into a subject fraught with interest to student and reader alike.'

Notes and Queries, in mentioning the issue of Vol. III.—'The ambitious and scholarly task of Mr. Hartland is now accomplished, and the world is the richer by an all-important contribution to comparative folk-lore.'

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The Daily Chronicle.—'A work which as an authoritative exposition of the anthropological exposition of folk-lore has taken its place by the side of Mr. Frazer's "Golden Bough."'

Concerning 'THE VOYAGE OF BRAN'

Monsieur H. D’Arbois de Jubainville in the 'Revue Celtique.'—'Œuvre d’une grande valeur scientifique et d’une lecture agréable.'

Monsieur H. Gaidoz in 'Mélusine.'—'Édition, tradition et commentaire philologique sont d’une critique irréprochable. . . . M. Nutt est bien informé: ses matériaux sont pris aux meilleures sources: son exposition est nette et précise: son livre est une œuvre d’histoire générale à la fois des croyances et des littératures.'

Monsieur Gaston Paris in 'Romania.'—'Très savante étude . . . qui sera lue avec grand profit par tous ceux qui s’occupent de littérature comparée ou d’histoire religieuse.'

Professor Ernst Martin in the 'Zeitschrift für deutsches Alterthum.'—'Ueberall verwertet Nutt die besten und neuesten Hilfsmittel, aber er vermehrt auch selbstständig das Material und zieht eine Reihe von Schlüssen welche er methodisch begrundet und zugleich klar und fesselnd vorträgt.'

Professor P. York Powell in 'Folk-Lore:—'The most valuable contribution to the history of religion and religious ideas that, so far as my knowledge goes, last year gave us.'

Monsieur L. Marillier in the 'Revue de l’Histoire des Religions.'—'M, Nutt aura rendu un éminent service en portant à la connaissance des mythologues des documents dont beaucoup malheureusement ne sont mis à profit que dans le cercle étroit des celtisants; il en aura rendu un plus grand encore en faisant avec tant de sureté critique et de solide érudition l’analyse et l’histoire des conceptions complexes qui y sont contenues.'

Notes and Queries,—'This notable contribution to the history of Celtic myth and religion.'

Manchester Guardian.—'The bock is important, because it is a carefully reasoned constructive effort to get a working-theory of Aryan religious history.'

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Inverness Northern Chronicle.—'A reconstruction of pre-Christian Irish theology. . . . Professor Meyer's translations are admirable. . . . It is impossible to give in this notice an idea of Mr. Nutt's painstaking gathering of materials, or of the scientific use he makes of them in the work of restoration.'

Modern Language Notes (Baltimore).—'The field has been thoroughly examined for material, the material has been well and clearly worked over. The statements of fact are always fair; the reasoning is usually clear, forcible, and just, and the conclusions sane.'

Literature.—'Must for some time to come form the starting-point for future inquiry into the varying views of man about the life after death.'

The Nation (New York),—'Of Professor Meyer's part as editor and commentator, we can speak only in terms of the highest praise. . . . The same praise should be extended to Mr. Nutt's disquisitions . . . which prove him to be a master of his complicated theme.'

Concerning 'THE LEGEND OF SIR GAWAIN.'

Manchester Guardian.—'A careful, readable, and suggestive study which adds substantially to the results obtained by Madden's well-known book.'

Academy.—'Invaluable in clearing the path for a final survey of the tangled wood of Arthurian legend.'

LONDON: DAVID NUTT, 270 STRAND