The first seven of these ten pieces show Sir Walter Besant's early interest in French writers and French history, mediæval and modern ... a selection of which are published here, while others have appeared in volume form previously - attracted considerable attention by their display of sympathetic knowledge, and secured for their author a position among his brother writers before the publication of fiction obtained for him popular recognition. The last three pieces in this volume ... show Sir Walter Besant's absorbing interest in the craft of writing, and his jealousy for the status of the man of letters.--Preface.