The Press.
London, England, 1858-05-29 00:00:00

Lives of Me Sovereigns of Russia. By George
Fowler, Esq., Author of " llistory of Turkey,"
&c. Vols. I. and 11. London : Sampson Low
and Co.
TuEmcxlcrn taste for reading what is supposed to
be " history" taken in a biographical form still
continues, and is likely to do so. The fashion
suits a crowd of careless readers, who do not like
the continuity of attention required by the high
style of history ; and a large number who dislike
mere fiction, and the more frivolous sort of ephe-
meral books, approve of the compiled biographies
which now issue in countless tomes. A class of

'authors, neither deep nor laborious, are able to
find occupation for catering to this particular
taste, One would suppose that this style of
history at second hand, with mutilated facts,
without philosophical method or high literary
execution, would have soon come to a stand.
Such is not the case. The reading public has
appetite for it, and there is no danger of there
being a want of purveyors of this particular kind
of literary provender. We think, if this class
of literature is to be kept up, that the public
would be warranted in demanding more accurate
research in the writers, and a style of narrative
that should rise above compilation. Such a
branch of literature must necessarily be reason-
ably lucrative, and it is one which ought to pro-
duce more laurelled names.
Mr. Fowler's " Lives of the Sovereigns of
Russia" would have read better at the time of
the Russian war. The subject is in fact over-
done, but there may still be room for a work of
this kind, of which two volumes are given to us
here, and a third is yet to come. The author
says in his preface that the " first volume of the
" present work was partially (sic) issued in 1852."
He then goes on to say that " circumstances in-
" terfered with its publication, and it was subse-
" quently withdrawn until the second volume
" could be completed." The change in the public
mind about Russia between 1852 and 1858 is one
of the greatest that could be recorded ; and if
Mr. Fowler's work had been completed about the
time of the war, it would have had more success
han can be expected now. It is with books as
with ships: those that keel in the launching can-
not be made to float easily. Readers now are more
critical about Russian knowledge than they were
five years ago, and they are better informed. Mr.
Fowler states :

The materials for wri ing the narrative of these events
he has endeavoured to procure from the best authorities
He has likewise gathered information from inedited
manuscripts, and from his own personal observation of the
country and people of Russia.
He does not, however, cite his authorities. We
do not know from what memoirs he has taken his
facts, nor can we estimate the value of his
" inedited manuscripts." The work, as far as it
has yet gone, is little better than a compilation,
and of course it would not be difficult to go
flagrantly wrong on such a subject. Mr.
Fowler can collect, abbreviate, and compren,
but he does not select tastefully, nor
does he narrate with spirit. His manner is
dry, prosy, and baldly literal ; but he deserves
the credit of bringing together a great mass of
details; though it is to be regretted that he has not
given any authenticating notes to the text. The
English public does not approve of the example
of the celebrated French historians of our times,
who have not condescended to mention the
sources of their facts; and all our experience
warrants us in asking for notes to works of
history or compiled biography.
Mr. Fowler narrates fluently enough when
treating the level parts of his subject, but he fails
in opposite directions. Ile does not succeed in
either the utilitarian or the romantic parts of his
work. There should have been a preliminary
chapter on the physical geography of Russia,
with some dissertation on the gradual canses that
led to the development of its empire. The races
on its soil, the nature of the country, its varia-
tions of climate, its aspects and scenery, should
have been glanced at in a luminous introduction.
Such views of a country are always interesting,
and are extremely useful. These are omiksions,
however, which might be remedied in the third
volume and a map should also be added to
the publication.
Of the two volumes here before us the second
much the best. It is more various and read-
able, and, as its matter relates to modern times,
its contents are more interesting. The charade:l