Henry Festing Jones – författare

It has often occurred to the Author that there are two principal defects in the existing treatises on the game of Whist—the one that the principles of play are, in general, laid down as so many isolated and arbitrary conventions, the reasons upon which such principles are based being seldom, if at all, and scarcely ever fully, stated; the other, that suitable illustrations, by which alone the principles can be brought forcibly home and fixed in the memory, are almost entirely wanting. The present work is an attempt to supply these deficiencies. With regard to the latter, the Author feels that nothing, in point of illustration of principles, can be so instructive as a selection of hands played completely through, and accompanied by copious explanations. The idea, it is believed, as applied to Whist, is a new one, though a similar plan has long been in use in treatises on Chess.It has not been deemed necessary to occupy space by detailing the mode of playing and of scoring, as this information can be readily acquired at the table. The reader is, therefore, credited with this elementary knowledge, and is conducted at once to the General Principles, which he is advised to consider carefully before proceeding to the Hands.[Pg x]

The British author Samuel Butler's "The Note-Books of Samuel Butler" is a compilation of essays and aphorisms. The book offers Butler's thoughts on his surroundings and covers a broad variety of subjects, including literature, science, philosophy, and the arts. Butler makes insightful insights on everything from the value of Shakespeare's plays to the nature of human awareness in his work, which is known for its sharp humor. He also delves into more esoteric subjects like the essence of truth and the compatibility of science and religion. Butler's cynicism and irreverence are evident throughout the book as he questions accepted knowledge and makes fun of individuals in positions of authority. He is especially critical of the strict social mores and false morality of the Victorian age, which he lived in. Butler consistently exhibits great admiration for the beauty and intricacy of the natural world, as well as a conviction in the ability of literature and art to move people and inspire change, despite his pessimism. The Note-Books of Samuel Butler, a collection of essays that gives insights into the thinking of one of the most unique and intriguing thinkers of the Victorian era, is an overall thought-provoking and enjoyable collection of essays.