INTRODUCTION
It has been the aim in these selections from Sans Famille to give the story in as complete and consecutive a form as possible, presenting what, to the editor, has seemed to be the most valuable and characteristic in this work of Malot, and at the same time the most interesting from the narrative standpoint; for this reason almost all long descriptions have been omitted and chapters that do not directly bear on the immediate advancement of the story, such as Remi’s stay at the gardener’s and his experiences at the mining town. A straightforward, uninterrupted narration has been the principal aim; a text in which ample opportunity is given for conversation in the classroom; notes which do not translate (the selections being especially light and easy), but which may serve to point out illustrations of the principal rules of grammar which a first-year student is likely to compass, or a second-year student needs to review.
It seems that this story has never been given its proper place in the evolution or development of French literature in the latter half of the nineteenth century.
