PR 5581 345 1907 MAIN THE PREFACE HE object of this little book is threefold; I have tried (1) to give a simple narrative of the life of Tennyson, with a sketch of his temperament, character, ideals and beliefs; (2) I have tried from his own words and writings to indicate what I believe to have been his view of the poetical life and character; (3) I have attempted to touch the chief characteristics of his art from the technical point of view, here again as far as possible using his own recorded words. My aim has been not to deal largely in quotation, but to take for granted a knowledge of the works, and if possible to send a reader back to them. I am, of course, deeply indebted to the present Lord Tennyson's great Memoir, which, for all its tender simplicity of form, is a perfect mine of interest and pleasure; and I here acknowledge very gratefully the kind permission which Lord Tennyson readily gave me to make use of his book,1 and even 1I may here also record my obligation to my sister, Miss Margaret Benson, to Mr. Edmund Gosse, and to Mr. F. E. B. Duff for valuable assistance, criticism and advice. 164074 |