Book Description

Excerpt from Outlines of Modern History, on a New Plan Modern History presents so wide and varied a field, that a volume of the ordinary size is scarcely adequate to the purpose, of pointing out all even of the more striking objects, which such a field contains. Indeed, comparatively little can be hoped to be achieved in a very condensed narrative of the events of modern ages, on the common plan. It would be apt to become a barren outline, or dry abstract, with little to interest or instruct the mind of the reader, and this, almost from the necessity of the case. The conciseness which is studied would preclude all minute relation, and with that the chief charm of history. The character of many publications of this class, otherwise very valuable, has suffered from such a cause. By the use of two sizes of type, this inconvenience is remedied in a degree, if there be sufficient skill in the execution; and a considerable space within a given compass, is thus allowed, for lively and entertaining matter not essentially connected with the leading facts or frame-work of history. The latter, necessarily dry in themselves, and having few attractions for common minds, but very important to every one who would obtain a correct idea of the course of events, may be all confined to the larger type: and thus, while a very brief epitome of history is presented in that part, the reader is at the same time, by means of the smaller type, made acquainted with details which will enliven the narrative, and the better impress the more material facts on his mind. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.