Sir Sidney Lee (1859 1926) was a lifelong scholar and enthusiast of Shakespeare, but is also remembered as the 'sub-editor' recruited by Sir Leslie Stephen when he was embarking on the project of the Dictionary of National Biography, and whose editorial and organisational skills were vital in keeping the publication programme close to its planned schedule. His own contributions to the Dictionary included an account of the life of Queen Victoria and (in Volume 51, 1897) William Shakespeare. This study of Stratford-on-Avon was first published in 1885, and the greatly enlarged version, reissued...

Volcanoes: Past and Present is an earth science classic by Edward Hull. It has not been my object to present in the following pages even an approximately complete description of the volcanic and seismic phenomena of the globe; such an undertaking would involve an amount of labour which few would be bold enough to attempt; nor would it be compatible with the aims of the Contemporary Science Series. I have rather chosen to illustrate the most recent conclusions regarding the phenomena and origin of volcanic action, by the selection of examples drawn from the districts where these phenomena have...

In his day, Gen. Benjamin S. Roberts was better known as a U.S. Army combat commander than as a firearms inventor. Yet as an inventor he saw commercial success with his idea for converting muzzle-loading muskets into efficient breechloaders. This is the story of his efforts, beginning in 1859, to develop the ultimate breechloader - efforts that would lead to his successful design in 1866. He also achieved success with his patented design for cartridges. This book provides collectors and arms historians with extensive new information on the production and international use of the Roberts...