The best books : a reader's guide to the choice of the best available books (about 50,000) in every department of science, art and literature, with the dates of the first and last editions, and the price, size and publisher's name of each book : a contribution towards systematic bibliography / by William Swan Sonnenschein.

Sonnenschein William Swan, 1855-1931.

Date:: 1891

Credit: The best books : a reader's guide to the choice of the best available books (about 50,000) in every department of science, art and literature, with the dates of the first and last editions, and the price, size and publisher's name of each book : a contribution towards systematic bibliography / by William Swan Sonnenschein. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

1144/2012

Some selected representative Press Opinions on the Second Edition of THE BEST BOOKS. 1100 pages, 4to, cloth extra, 31s. 6cl. nett ($9 nett). Academy: This new edition will command a still wider popu- larity, for there can be no question of its immense superiority as a careful and extremely well-edited bibliography. The most important feature is its classification. He evinces a talent for bibliographical classification which is extremely rare. Antl-Jacobin: A book which, in all senses of the word, is one of the weightiest of our generation. . . , That any single man should undertake such a labour is wonderful enough, but much more wonderful is its triumphant accomplishment. Athenaeum: The second edition is a distinct advance on its pre- decessor, and of its predecessor frequent use gave us a high opinion. It is a book which even a man of great learning may be glad to consult, and a man beginning to learn will find in- valuable. The volume does Mr. Sonnenschein infinite credit, and proves him to possess a wide and sound knowledge of books. Bookseller : Deserves nothing but unqualified praise. British Weekly: It is the reader's guide. Already a reference- book in all English-speaking lands, it will in its new and greatly improved form take a place from which it will not be dislodged. Daily Chronicle: An exceedingly useful and valuable publica- tion. Daily News: It has been, and is, of the greatest service to mul- titudes of people engaged in literary, scientific and artistic re- search. An extraordinary performance. Of all the books of reference in the British Museum, Mr. Sonnenschein's Guide appears to be most in request. Glasgow %rald: The new edition is a distinct advance on its predecessor—valuable though it was. The volume is one with- out which no library of any pretensions can be said to be properly equipped. Globe : Lovers of the library agree in considering [it] one of the very best bibliographies ever framed. A comparison with the first edition shows what a long and arduous labour the autlior has devoted to its development. Journal of Education: We gave a hearty welcome to the first edition, which appeared in 1887 ; and the second edition, which, though not greatly increased in bulk, has nearly double the number of entries, deserves no less high commendation. Library Review: That admirable work. The Best Books, has turned out the thorough success that its great merit so well deserves. Literary World: We are not surprised at the success of the venture, which lias been very great. Speaking for ourselves, we cannot be too grateful for the assistance we have obtained from the first edition, and we have to express Ararm acknow- ledgment for a work that, taken as a whole, is the most perfect of its kind in existence, and one simply of inestimable value to book-buyers of all classes. Literary World, Boston: It was recognised on its first appear- ance as the most widely useful bibliography in our language. He has now brought out a second edition, much enlarged, of which it would be difficult to speak too liighly as regards its accuracy, comprehensiveness, and fairness. The brief notes explaining the special nature of the most important books are numerous and judicious. Ittancliester Examiner: A work of such tremendous industry, such admirable arrangement, and such incalculable useful- ness. Nature: The idea is excellent, and has been excellently carried out. Mr. Sonnenschein may be congratulated on the manner in which his task has been accomplished. Two separate in- dexes add greatly to its value. Newsagent: The classification is most complete, although a marvel of simplicity. It is unquestionably one of the most important books of the year. Notes and Queries: To the excellence of Mr. Sonnenschein's system and to the value of his work we have before testified. The amount of information is only less e-xemplary than its accuracy. No bibliographical library can be without the new edition, and there are few students and workers whose labours will not be lightened by a reference to its pages. Pall Mall Gazette: The result of Mr. Sonnenschein's herculean labours is a guide from which the student or general reader may at any moment discover the ' best books' concerning the subject in wliich he is for the time being interested. . . . There can be no doubt that he has produced a work of the greatest usefulness to students, literary men, and journalists—to all, in fact, who know how to use and appreciate a good book. Indeed, taken altogether, Mr. Sonnenschein's ' Guide ' is as perfect as any merely human and ' one man' book can be ; and no student or booklover who can afford a guinea and a half should be without it. Publishers' Circular: This new edition of his admirable work almost amounts to a new book. It is a wonderful and monu- mental testimony to Mr. Sonnenschein's energy and enter- prise, and no one with any knowledge of bibliography can fail to be struck by the immense labour involved in its production and the mass of information which it provides. ... A book of reference conceived on such admirable lines and carried out with such conscientiousness and thoroughness. Review of Reviews: Undoubtedly the most useful book of the year, compiled with a care and accuracy it would be impossible to surpass. Every branch of knowledge seems to be repre- sented, and the arrangement as a whole leaves nothing to be desired. The most complete, most trustworthy, and most indispensable guide to good literature that has ever been made : a monument of wide and varied knowledge and of patient and unremitting industry. Scotsman: Useful as the work proved in its original form, it is likely to prove more than doubly so in this greatly improved issue . . . invaluable to anyone who is hunting for books on a special subject ... it will soon be in every-day con- sultation among bibliographers. Speaker: The arrangement deserves unqualified praise, for it is both admirable and ingenious. Spectator: It is at once one of the most useful and needed of books. ... A work which not only displays great industry and unusual thoroughness, hut which is calculated to be of much value to every reader and student who wishes to know what recently published books are to be found in any departmen t. . . . The excellent index of subjects—to which, as well as to the index of authors, we can give unqualified praise. Times : Evinces a monumental industry. Westminster Review: One of the most complete and useful books of reference for literary people that we have ever seen. Its usefulness cannot be overstated ; it is invaluable. A marvel of patient industry and skilful classification. LONDON ; SWAN SONNENSCHEIN & CO. NEW YORK : G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS. Butler & Tanner, The Selwood Printing V/orks, Frome, and London.

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