[Illustration: (signature of author) From a drawing by W. Rothenstein.]

THE ADVENTURE OF LIVING

A Subjective Autobiography (1860-1922)

By John St. Loe Strachey Editor of _The Spectator_

_"We carry with us the wonders we seek without
us; there is all Africa and her prodigies in us; we
are that bold and adventurous piece of Nature, which
he that studies wisely learns in a compendium what
others labour at in a divided piece and endless volume."_
SIR THOMAS BROWNE




TO MY WIFE


You who know something of the irony of life in general, and still more
of it in the present particular, will not be surprised that, having made
two strict rules for my guidance in the writing of this book, I break
them both in the first page! Indeed, I can hear you say, though without
any touch of the satirical, that it was only natural that I should do
so.

The first of my two rules, heartily approved by you, let me add, is that
I should not mention you in my autobiography.--We both deem it foolish