| I have based this compilation of Dryden's critical opinions upon the whole of his prose works, including essays, dedications, prefaces, au lecteurs, headnotes, arguments, notes and observations, biographies, histories, and letters. In two or three instances I have drawn upon Joseph Spence's Anecdotes (ed. S. W. Singer, London, 1820). Criticism expressed in verse or drama I have not attempted to include, partly because such criticism is not as characteristic of Dryden as the prose, partly because its inclusion would have extended the size of the book beyond practical limits. |
| Within the boundaries indicated I have sought to include all significant critical opinion. In addition I have admitted some matter not strictly critical in nature, but more nearly literary or literary-historical. There is for example an entry on Charles II. And there are entries on such topics as booksellers, the Commonwealth, music, timeservers, etc. Under the heading DRYDEN I have included not only all of Dryden's self-criticism, but all of his comment on his literary activities, associations, and conduct. If, in other words, I have consciously erred in respect to content, it has been on the side of excess, in the hope of making the book more generally useful. It has not been possible, of course, to admit everything. I have not, for example, included all persons referred to by Dryden. I hope that no one important has been omitted, though perhaps no two persons are likely to agree on that. It should be noted, however, that some names, not included among the entry headings, may be traced to mention elsewhere by means of the index at the end of the volume. Thus Poussin, for whom there is no entry in the text, may be traced, by this means, to his mention under the heading POETRY AND PAINTING. Of other kinds of omission more will be said below. |
| Contents are arranged in two ways: alphabetically by subject and chronologically within subjects. Thus FANCY will be found in its proper place in the alphabetical sequence, and under that heading Dryden's remarks on the subject in chronological order. Likewise, with a few exceptions, subdivisional headings are presented alphabetically and contents under them arranged chronologically. In some few topics, such as STYLE and TRANSLATION, I have substituted a logical for the alphabetical arrangement in order to permit certain groupings which seemed desirable. Cross references follow the chronological principle throughout. |
| Generally entry rifles follow the logic normal in such matters, being what in |
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