This book, published for the first time in 2 volumes in 1933, has become a classic in Pali studies. It presents an exhaustive picture of the Pali literature, both canonical and post-canonical, giving summaries of all the Pali books, from the Vinaya Pitaka which specifies the rules of conduct for bhikkus and bhikkhunis to the Jataka Tales containing popular stories. Here are presented the first Buddhist books in history, which became the scriptures that form the base for the Theravada Buddhism. Providing a huge amount of information about early Buddhism as well as about ancient Indian history, this is an invaluable reference book for the scholar as well as for the general reader interested in Buddhism.