In these registers are reported, without alteration, hatred or passion the facts relating to the life of each individual.

It is the most gigantic biographical collection that has ever been formed.

The frailties of a woman, the secret errors of a statesman, are chronicled in this book with the same cold impartiality.

Drawn up for the purpose of being useful, these biographies are necessarily exact.

When the Jesuits wish to influence an individual, they have but to turn to this book, and they know immediately his life, his character, his parts, his faults, his projects, his family, his friends, his most sacred ties.