SCHOLAR ADVENTURERS

A carefully detailed but by no means dull account of the more dignified pursuit of detection as practiced by literary scholars. --Kirkus Reviews Although [Altick' sensibly mentions that research may be a misadventure he naturally enough plays up its glamour and romance; and its fascination for the scholar is transmitted to the reader. His book then as popular reading is first-rate solid rewarding and lively --The Nationa brisk well-written book --TimeThis is a volume of gracefully written essays celebrating the feats of literary detective work performed by scores of learned men and women passionately in love with the minutiae of literary scholarships. --The New York Timesa more fascinating recital than any fictional mystery story and its detectives are it leads us to believe more interesting in themselves--they are not mousy researchers--than fictional private eyes --The Boston GlobeRichard Altick's classic portrayal of scholars on the prowl has delighted generations of readers. From the exposure of British rare book dealer Thomas Wise--the most famous authority of his day--as a master forger of first editions to the discovery of thousands of new James Boswell papers Altick shows the scholar at work. Chaucer Shakespeare Wordsworth Shelley Keats and many others surrender previously unrevealed secrets to these dogged researchers whose ceaseless sleuthing has increased our knowledge and appreciation of both literature and the people who created it.Richard D. Altick is Regent's Professor Emeritus of English at The Ohio State University. He is the author of The English Common Reader Lives and Letters To Be in England Victorian Studies in Scarlet Victorian People and Ideas The Shows of London Paintings from Books and Deadly Encounters as well as numerous essays on English literature and culture.