Synopsis Literature is a vital record of what men have seen in life, what they have experienced of it, what they have thought and felt about those aspects of it. Fundamentally an expression of life through the medium of language, literature accordingly needs to be systematically studied.

The present book is a treasure in this direction owing to its concise and easily comprehensible elucidation of ways of studying the varied genre of literature--poetry, prose, fiction, drama, short story, essay and criticism.

A great contribution of W.H. Hudson, a prominent 19 century literary figure, the present book is planned as a guide and companion to ones' own study. It is self-contained, highly interesting and suggestive in itself. It will prove immensely useful to all those readers for whom literature is primarily a means of enjoyment and a help to life.