The years from 1885 to 1898 have been correctly termed by Mr. G. K. Chesterton “an epoch of real pessimism.” Not that pessimists were common at this time, but the question of the value of life was on the horizon of every educated man, and developed like a storm cloud whenever the air of speculation chilled. In England the literary men in particular were given to pessimistic questionings; and a great volume of Continental literature, of a quality to reënforce the idea of the world's tedium and pain, began to appear in translation. FitzGerald's translation of the Rubaiyat sprang into public attention in 1885 and maintained an immense popularity for the next fifteen years. Inasmuch as it has often been confidently affirmed that the cause of the pessimism of this period is to be found in the teachings of Schopenhauer, I have undertaken to examine the nature and extent of Schopenhauer's influence. No evidence appears, however, that Schopenhauer had more than a contributory influence; and the task has necessarily broadened into a study of the history of literary pessimism. Because of the extent of the subject, the present paper offers little more than a summary of methods and results. I hope later to publish the proofs in greater detail.