University of Virginia Library

“Mr. Valpy has projected a Family Classical Library. The idea is
excellent, and the work cannot fail to be acceptable to youth of both sexes,
as well as to a large portion of the reading community, who have not had
the benefit of a learned education.”

“We have here the commencement of another undertaking for the more
general distribution of knowledge, and one which, if as well conducted
as we may expect, bids fair to occupy an enlarged station in our immediate
literature. The volume before us is a specimen well calculated to
recommend what are to follow. Leland's Demosthenes is an excellent
work.”

“This work will be received with great gratification by every man who
knows the value of classical knowledge. All that we call purity of taste,
vigour of style, and force of thought, has either been taught to the modern
world by the study of the classics, or has been guided and restrained by
those illustrious models. To extend the knowledge of such works is to
do a public service.”

“The Family Classical Library is another of those cheap, useful, and
elegant works, which we lately spoke of as forming an era in our publishing
history.”

“The present era seems destined to be honourably distinguished in
literary history by the high character of the works to which it is successively
giving birth. Proudly independent of the fleeting taste of the day,
they boast substantial worth which can never be disregarded; they put
forth a claim to permanent estimation. The Family Classical Library is
a noble undertaking, which the name of the editor assures us will be executed
in a style worthy of the great originals.”

“This is a very promising speculation; and as the taste of the day runs
just now very strongly in favour of such Miscellanies, we doubt not it
will meet with proportionate success. It needs no adventitious aid, however
influential; it has quite sufficient merit to enable it to stand on
its own foundation, and will doubtless assume a lofty grade in public
favour.”

“This work, published at a low price, is beautifully got up. Though
to profess to be content with translations of the Classics has been denounced
as `the thin disguise of indolence,' there are thousands who
have no leisure for studying the dead languages, who would yet like to
know what was thought and said by the sages and poets of antiquity.
To there this work will be a treasure”

“This design, which is to communicate a knowledge of the most
esteemed authors of Greece and Rome, by the most approved translations,
to those from whom their treasures, without such assistance, would be
hidden, must surely be approved by every friend of literature, by every
lover of mankind. We shall only say of the first volume, that as the
execution well accords with the design, it must command general approbation.”

“We see no reason why this work should not find its way into the
boudoir of the lady, as well as into the library of the learned. It is cheap,
portable, and altogether a work which may safely be placed in the hands
of persons of both sexes.”

“A greater desideratum to the English reader cannot well be brought
to public notice.”

“The Family Classical Library may be reckoned as one of the most
Instructive series of works now in the course of publication.”

“A series of works under the title of the Family Classical Library
Is now in the course of publication, which will, no doubt, arrest the attention
of all the admirers of elegant and polite literature—of that literature
which forms the solid and indispensable basis of a sound and gentlemanly
education.”

“We are inclined to augur the most beneficial results to the rising
generation from the plan and nature of this publication; and we doubt not
that under the able superintendence of Mr. Valpy, the value of the present
work will not exceed its success as a mere literary speculation. It ought
to find a place in every school and private family in the kingdom.”

“The design of this publication is highly laudable: if it be patronised
according to its deserts, we have no hesitation in saying that its success
will be very considerable.”

“If we had been called on to state what in our opinion was wanted to
complete the several periodicals now in course of publication, we should
have recommended a translation of the most approved ancient writers, in
a corresponding style. This undertaking, therefore, of Mr. Valpy's, most
completely meets the view we had entertained on the subject. We
strongly recommend the production to the notice of schools, as its perusal
must tend to implant on the minds of the pupils a love for ancient lore.
In Ladies' Seminaries the series will, indeed, be invaluable—the stores of
antiquity being thus thrown open to them.”

“Economy is the order of the day in books. The Family Classical Library
will greatly assist the classical labours of tutors as well as pupils.
We suspect that a period is arriving when the Greek and Latin authors
will be more generally read through the medium of translations.”

“We avail ourselves of the earliest opportunity of introducing to the
notice of our readers a work which appears to promise the utmost advantage
to the rising generation in particular. There is no class of people to
whom it is not calculated to be useful—to the scholar, it will be an agreeable
guide and companion; while those to whom a classical education
has been denied will find in it a pleasant and a valuable avenue towards
those ancient models of literary greatness, which, even in this age of
boasted refinement, we are proud to imitate.”

“The Family Classical Library will contain the most correct and elegant
translations of the immortal works of all the great authors of Greece
and Rome; an acquaintance with whose writings is indispensable to every
man who is desirous of acquiring even modern classical attainments”.

“This volume promises to be an invaluable acquisition to those but
partially acquainted with the Greek and Latin languages: such of the
fair sex more especially as direct their laudable curiosity in the channel
of classic literature must find in translation the very key to the knowledge
they seek. The mere trifle for which the lover of literature may now
furnish his library with an elegant and uniform edition of the best translations
from the classics, will, it cannot be doubted, ensure the Family
Classical Library a welcome reception.”

“This work will supply a desideratum in literature; and we hope it
will meet with encouragement. The translations of many of the ancient
authors, who may be looked on as the great storehouse of modern literature,
are out of the reach of the English reader; and this publication will
render them accessible to all.”