Outlines of the history of France from the earliest times to outbreak of the revolution

Front matter

7^^

OUTLIJSTES

HISTORY OF FEANC

Preface

In preparing" the following' abridgment of M. Guizot's History of France, I have scrupulously abstained from altering the translation, except in a limited number of cases, where condensation was absolutely necessary. One of the distinctive features of the original work is the number of characteristic extracts taken from the picturesque pages of contemporary chroniclers and annalists. As it was impossible to retain these consistently with the nature of a mere resume, I have given, instead, a tolerably complete list of all the sources of French history, so that the reader may be able to refer without difficulty to the authors quoted or alluded to by M. Guizot. This seemed a natural opportunity for mentioning a few standard works on French legislation, civil, political, and ecclesiastical, on literature, etc. T could not do more here than name one writer in each speciality; for further details the student is referred to the "Catalogue de FHistoire de France" (Bibliotheque National e), 10 vols., 4to.; M„ Ludovic Lalanne^s " Dictionnaire Hlstorique de la France" (published by Messrs. Hachette of Paris), 1 vol., 8vo.; and M. Alfred Franklin's *^ Sources de FHistoire de France" (Paris, Didot, 8vo.), three storehouses of the most valuable information on the historv of France.

I can only trust, in conclusion, that this unpretending volume^ with its pictorial illustrations, and its necessary

VI PEEFACE.

appendix of genealogicalj chronological, and historical tables, will be favourably received by the public | and 1 gladly acknowledge that whatever merit it possesses must be ascribed to the illustrious author and English translator of " L'Histoire de France racontee ^ mes petits-enfants.^'

GUST AVE MASSON.

Harrow-on-the-Hill, June 13th, 1879.