Autobiography of Anthony Trollope

By Anthony Trollope





PREFACE




It may be well that I should put a short preface to this book. In
the summer of 1878 my father told me that he had written a memoir
of his own life. He did not speak about it at length, but said
that he had written me a letter, not to be opened until after his
death, containing instructions for publication.

This letter was dated 30th April, 1876. I will give here as much
of it as concerns the public: "I wish you to accept as a gift from
me, given you now, the accompanying pages which contain a memoir
of my life. My intention is that they shall be published after
my death, and be edited by you. But I leave it altogether to your
discretion whether to publish or to suppress the work;--and also
to your discretion whether any part or what part shall be omitted.
But I would not wish that anything should be added to the memoir.
If you wish to say any word as from yourself, let it be done in
the shape of a preface or introductory chapter." At the end there
is a postscript: "The publication, if made at all, should be effected