The Introductory Note: "No part of a book is so intimate as the Preface". Well, thought I, that is just ridiculous. But it goes on to spell out why, and reveals that it is in the Preface the author is "suddenly seen face to face". And indeed, this volume exposes exactly this view.

Contents:

PROLOGUE AND EPILOGUES TO THE RECUYELL OF THE HISTORIES OF TROY, by William Caxton
Epilogue to DICTES AND SAYINGS OF THE PHILOSOPHERS, by William Caxton
Prologue to GOLDEN LEGEND, by William Caxton
Prologue to CATON, by William Caxton
Epilogue to AESOP, by William Caxton
Proem to CHAUCER'S CANTERBURY TALES, by William Caxton
Prologue to MALORY'S KING ARTHUR, by William Caxton
Prologue to VIRGIL'S ENEYDOS, by William Caxton

Dedication of The INSTITUTES OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION, by John Calvin, translated by John Allen

Dedication of The REVOLUTIONS OF THE HEAVENLY BODIES, by Nicolaus Copernicus

Preface to THE HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION IN SCOTLAND, by John Knox

Prefatory letter to Sir Walter Raleigh on THE FAERIE QUEENE, by Edmund Spenser

Preface to THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, by Sir Walter Raleigh

PROOEMIUM, EPISTLE DEDICATORY, PREFACE, AND PLAN OF THE INSTAURATIO MAGNA, ETC., by Francis Bacon, translation edited by J. Spedding

Preface to THE NOVUM ORGANUM, by Francis Bacon

Preface to THE FIRST FOLIO EDITION OF SHAKESPEARE'S PLAYS, by Heminge and Condell

Preface to THE PHILOSOPHIAE NATURALIS PRINCIPIA MATHEMATICA, by Sir Isaac Newton, translated by Andrew Motte

Preface to FABLES, ANCIENT AND MODERN, by John Dryden

Preface to JOSEPH ANDREWS, by Henry Fielding

Preface to THE ENGLISH DICTIONARY, by Samuel Johnson

Preface to SHAKESPEARE, by Samuel Johnson

INTRODUCTION TO THE PROPYLÄEN, by J.W. Von Goethe

PREFACES TO VARIOUS VOLUMES OF POEMS, by William Wordsworth

APPENDIX TO LYRICAL BALLADS, by William Wordsworth
ESSAY SUPPLEMENTARY TO PREFACE, by William Wordsworth

Preface to CROMWELL, by Victor Hugo

Preface to LEAVES OF GRASS, by Walt Whitman

Introduction to THE HISTORY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE, by H.A. Taine

In the Taine preface, we find his brilliant summary of his method of "historicist criticism". He describes the three-pronged contextual study of human productions: Aspects of (1) race/peoples, (2) milieu/setting, (3) epoch/moment.

In the "monuments of history" -- books and art -- he finds "the two most potent motors of human transformation", namely nature and constraint." He shows how their insensible operation brings religious and literary productions to full light. In his study of English literature, including religious contributions and genre, he explains how "the barbarous Saxon became the Englishman of the present day". ( )