Lang, who dedicated this book to Miss Thackaray, was a man of many talents, with interests ranging from anthropology to fairy tales to literary criticism. These 22 letters are humorous and, as far as the letter to Jane Austen, spot-on. He regrets her lack of current popularity, partly blaming the recent release of her letters, but acknowledges she should have focused on Lydia, or Kitty, and emphasized strong passions, among other things, to be popular in circulating libraries of his day. All tongue-in-cheek, of course, as he reveals himself a serious Austen fan. In addition to Austen we've got Lord Byron, Dickens, Poe, Sir Walter Scott, Robert Burns, Pope, Shelley, and Isaak Walton among others. Gilson M164. First edition in green cloth with gilt title.  Charles Scribner's Sons. 1886. USED. $25.00