Selected Prose

Résumé · Matthew Arnold is too often studied in compartments - as his father's son, as poet, educationist, literary critic, moralist, or political theorist. But Arnold was one man, and one who could fill the role of official Victorian prophet. His prose - itself shaped in a classic mould of simplicity, clarity and brevity - is almost invariably inspired by one theme : 'how to find and keep high ideals' in an age of Barbarian aristocraty, Philistine middle classes and ignorant populace. He clearly saw the future as belonging to the masses and education was therefore central to his purpose. For this volume P. J. Keating has selected those passages wich make Arnold a living force for the modern reader. In addition to prefaces, essays and letters on literary criticism, education and other topics, he has inclued substantial extracts from 'On Translating Homer', 'Essays on Criticism', 'Culture and Anarchy', and the entertaining but neglected 'Friendship's Garland'. Arnold's religious writings are exclued.