title: Collected Critical Writings
author: Geoffrey Hill
description: <br>"If you are allowed one work of literary criticism to be marooned with on a desert island, take Geoffrey Hill's Collected Critical Writings, painstakingly edited by Kenneth Haynes." --Christianity and Literature
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  ##### www.blackmask.com
  
  * * *
  
  
    
    
  The British Barbarians
  
  
    
    
  Chapter I  
    
  Chapter II  
    
  Chapter III  
    
  Chapter IV  
    
  Chapter V  
    
  Chapter VI  
    
  Chapter VII  
    
  Chapter VIII  
    
  Chapter IX  
    
  Chapter X  
    
  Chapter XI  
    
  Chapter XII  
    
  Chapter XIII
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  # The British Barbarians
  
  
  ### Grant Allen
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### INTRODUCTION
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Which every reader of this book is
  
  
  requested to read before
  
  
  beginning the story.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  THIS is a Hill-top Novel. I dedicate it to all who have heart
  
  
  enough, brain enough, and soul enough to understand it.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  What do I mean by a Hill-top Novel? Well, of late we have
  
  
  been flooded with stories of evil tendencies: a Hill-top Novel
  
  
  is one which raises a protest in favour of purity.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Why have not novelists raised the protest earlier? For this
  
  
  reason. Hitherto, owing to the stern necessity laid upon the
  
  
  modern seer for earning his bread, and, incidentally, for finding
  