The British regular army in the form of the 'Old Contemptibles' of the B.E.F have proved no match in numbers-if not in spirit-to the challenges of a Great War in Europe. More men were needed and Lord Kitchener's finger, pointing out from the recruiting poster, made that appeal directly and simply. A 'New Army' had to be quickly formed. It would not be a professional army, but one formed of citizens who would rally to the cause-ready to do their 'bit'-because their country needed them. Ian Hay Beith has written two of the classic accounts of the first of these volunteer amateur soldiers and...

The British regular army in the form of the Old Contemptibles of the B.E.F have proved no match in numbers-if not in spirit-to the challenges of a Great War in Europe. More men were needed and Lord Kitcheners finger, pointing out from the recruiting poster, made that appeal directly and simply. A New Army had to be quickly formed. It would not be a professional army ,but one formed of citizens who would rally to the cause-ready to do their bit-because their country needed them. Ian Hay Beith has written two of the classic accounts of the first of these volunteer amateur soldiers and they are...

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

A glance at his clear-cut aristocratic features goes a long way towards deciding the question of the origin of the good looks of "those Rectory children." He is a tall man--six feet two, --and although he is barely fifty his hair is specklessly white. He looks more like a great prelate or statesman than a country parson. Perhaps he might have been one or the other, had he been born the eldest son of the eldest son of a peer, instead of the youngest son of the youngest. And again, perhaps not. The lines of his face indicate brain rather than character, and after all it is character that brings...

For several months it has been the pleasant duty of the writer of the following deliverance to travel around the United States, lecturing upon sundry War topics to indulgent American audiences. No one-least of all a parochial Briton-can engage upon such an enterprise for long without beginning to realize and admire the average American's amazing instinct for public affairs, and the quickness and vitality with which he fastens on and investigates every topic of live interest. Naturally, the overshadowing subject of discussion to-day is the War, and all the appurtenances thereof. The opening...

Robert Chalmers Fordyce arrived in Edinburgh pretty evenly divided between helpless stupefaction at the sight of a great city and stern determination not to be imposed upon by the inhabitants thereof. His fears were not as deep-seated as those of Tom Pinch on a similar occasion, -he, it will be remembered, suffered severe qualms from his familiarity with certain rural traditions concerning the composition of London pies, -but he was far from happy. He had never slept away from his native hillside before; he had never seen a town possessing more than three thousand inhabitants; and he had only...

There is an undefinable character and distinctiveness about Sunday morning which is not possessed by any other day of the week. Not that the remaining six are lacking in individuality. Monday is a depressed and reluctant individual; Tuesday is a full-blooded and energetic citizen; Wednesday a cheerful and contented gentleman who does not intend to overwork himself to-day, -this is probably due to the fact that we used to have a half-holiday on Wednesdays at school; and when I got into Parliament I found that the same rule held there; Thursday I regard as one who ploughs steadily on his way,...

The first and most-serious-but-one ordeal in the life of Robert Chalmers Fordyce-so Robert Chalmers himself informed me years afterwards-was the examination for the Bursary which he gained at Edinburgh University. A bursary is what an English undergraduate would call a "Schol." (Imagine a Scottish student talking about a "Burse" ) Robert Chalmers Fordyce arrived in Edinburgh pretty evenly divided between helpless stupefaction at the sight of a great city and stern determination not to be imposed upon by the inhabitants thereof. His fears were not as deep-seated as those of Tom Pinch on a...

Golf-loving American composer George Bevan falls in love with a mysterious young lady who takes refuge in his taxicab one day; when he tracks her down to a romantic rural manor, mistaken identity leads to all manner of brouhaha.

Happy-Go-Lucky by Ian Hay. This book is a reproduction of the original book published in 1913 and may have some imperfections such as marks or hand-written notes.