. All the great masters of Poetry, Drama, Fiction,
History, Biography, and Philosophy will be represented. Mr. Sidney Lee
will be the General Editor of the Library, and he will contribute a Note
to each book.

The characteristics of METHUEN'S UNIVERSAL LIBRARY are five:--

1. SOUNDNESS OF TEXT. A pure and unabridged text is the primary object
of the series, and the books will be carefully reprinted under the
direction of competent scholars from the best editions. In a series
intended for popular use not less than for students, adherence to the
old spelling would in many cases leave the matter unintelligible to
ordinary readers, and, as the appeal of a classic is universal, the
spelling has in general been modernised.

2. COMPLETENESS. Where it seems advisable, the complete works of such
masters as Milton, Bacon, Ben Jonson and Sir Thomas Browne will be
given. These will be issued in separate volumes, so that the reader who
does not desire all the works of an author will have the opportunity of
acquiring a single masterpiece.

3. CHEAPNESS. The books will be well printed on good paper at a price
which on the whole is without parallel in the history of publishing.
Each volume will contain from 100 to 350 pages, and will be issued in
paper covers, Crown 8vo, at Sixpence net. In a few cases a long book
will be issued as a Double Volume at One Shilling net.

4. CLEARNESS OF TYPE. The type will be a very legible one.

5. SIMPLICITY. There will be no editorial matter except a short
biographical and bibliographical note by Mr. Sidney Lee at the beginning
of each volume.

The volumes may also be obtained in cloth at One Shilling net, or in the
case of a Double Volume at One and Sixpence net. Thus TOM JONES may be
bought in a Double paper volume at One Shilling net, or in one cloth
volume at 1s. 6d. net.

The Library will be issued at regular intervals after the publication of
the first six books, all of which will be published together. Due notice
will be given of succeeding issues. The orders of publication will be
arranged to give as much variety of subject as possible, and the volume
composing the complete works of an author will be issued at convenient
intervals.

These are the early Books, all of which are in the Press.

THE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. In 10 volumes.

VOL. I.--The Tempest; The Two Gentlemen of Verona; The Merry Wives of
Windsor; Measure for Measure; The Comedy of Errors.

VOL. II.--Much Ado