The most important and interesting 
book of the year 
AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY BY 
HERBERT SPENCER 
An American friend of Spencer, who has read the book, says: 
“It is as broad and many-sided as human experience, and the marvel and 
charm of it is its simple, straightforward, and obvious truthfulness. It seems to 
me to exceed any of his former works in interest and practical value; and I have 
been a constant reader of his writings from their first publication in this country. 
Mr. Spencer’s supreme loyalty to truth and his native frankness have made his 
account of his life very open and unreserved. Lest he might err in this direction 
he got the advice of confidential friends. After reading it and approving it 
entirely, Huxley remarked that it reminded him of the ‘Confessions’ of Rousseau, 
_ Without any of the objectionable features of that work. 
“Mr. Spencer knew intimately some of the leading people of his time, and 
where the interest warranted it he has given his impressions of them. There are 
several pages of absorbing interest concerning George Eliot, whom he knew for 
years before she became so eminent as an author, and for whom he had the 
highest appreciation. The estimate of her character and ability from one so 
capable of judging, and one who knew her so well, is a distinct gain to the world. 
His intimates of the club, and especially Huxley and Tyndall, receive his friendly 
attention. The chapters upon Huxley and Tyndall will be read with deep 
Interest. His analysis of their qualities is a fine example of that kind of work.” 
With illustrations, many of them from the 
author’s own drawings. 8vo, cloth, 2 vols. in 
a box; $5.50 net; postage 4o cents additional 
D, Appleton and Company, Publishers, 
New York 
