The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-04 00:00:00

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Loirbard

LITERATURE.

homeless : or a Poet's Inner Life. By M. Gold-
schmidt, author of " Jacob Bendixen," &c. 3
vols. Hurst and Blackett.
This is a superior style of novel, which is sure to
attract those who desire to meet with works which
display talent in no ordinary degree, and bear evi-
dence of that deep thought of which only cultivated
minds are capable. The author states his object in
the preface in these emphatic words—" In truth
that which is commonly called the reality of life is
not my work's chief object and aim. Above that
reality which we see and hear of, there is yet
another reality—life's true pith, the true goal of
existence, which minds of noble stamp dimly see
from early youth, though mingled with, and ob-
scured by their passions; and for which, they strive
but alas ! often as a vessel without compass sur-
rounded by fogs. This reality is the ideal. My
tale then depicts a life resembling a long winding
river, finding its way to the ocean—ldeality,
eternity." The hero of the tale which is narrated
in an autobiographical form, was Otto Kroyer.
He is not a very attractive character, but one
feels interested in his welfare, and one canna
fail to sympathise in his many misfortunes. From
childhood he was misunderstood and unappre-
ciated. His mother and he never consorted
in their tastes ; his father with whom he got
on better on the whole soon died, and
the unhappy, youth had thuS to go on alone
as it were. He formed a childish attachment to a
beautiful young girl, his first playmate, and unlike
such juvenile fancies the sentiment strengthened
with years and became the ruling passion of his
youth. Emilie Keilman, however, was destined
for another destiny than to become the bride of an
erratic genius whom fame crowned not with gar-
lauds, nor fortune, endowed with more profitable, if
less precious treasures. Her parents arranged affairs
for her with due regard to worldly interests, of feel-
ings they cared not. Camilla is far more pleasing
than her friend, there is more spirit and animation in
her character than in that of Emilie. There was one
drawback to her happiness in her father's strange
conduct. Many years back he had by his unre-
leuting porsooutiono driven a young tradesman to
commit suicide, and the remembrance of this
haunted him like a nightmare. Whatever misfor-
tunes befell any of the family he declared that there
was a curse hanging over them. The episode of
Otto's acquaintance with Pauline is a very sad one,
and exhibits how the best intentioned persons can
commit serious errors. With his thoughts intent
on another be allowed himself to follow Pauline
about and finally engage himself to her without
there being the foundation of an attachment on his
part. The subsequent events of their ill-fated
friendship cast a shade over Otto's conduct, and
entirely disenchant one of Pauline whom at first
seemed rather prepossessing. The accounts of
Otto's compositions are very ably described, and
well might the unhappy youth have exclaimed,
" Save me from my friends." In both instances, at
the appearance of his play, and on the production
of his poem, did some so-called friendly critic con-
trive to ensure its failure. It was a hazardous
career that Otto marked out for himself, and under
the happiest auspices, there is always a risk in
attempting to criticise the existing state of things.
He was unfortunate in not possessing a friend who
might have toned down his style and softened the
violence of his views. Then he might have been
something really distinguished, and displayed his
brilliant talents to the advantage which they
merited, and become a successful author, who was
read and admired by many. He is here described
as one of those who think deeply but cannot turn
their thoughts to any definite purpose, hence their
shining talents flash meteor-like across the literary
horizon, but leave no lasting track behind them to
light with glory the impress of their course. It is
satisfactory to know that one who had suffered
so much, struggled so unsuccessfully,
and erred so often as Otto Kroyer should
at the close of his career prove himself bravo and
kind, and meet his own death by saving the lives
of others. In rescuing some friends out of a house
on fire he received such serious injuries that he
never entirely recovered. He felt no grief at the
approach of death, however, but, as often occurs in
those who have led such unquiet lives, he rejoiced
at the prospect of attaining the only sure know-
ledge and the only perfect calm. When his mother,
who never to the last could understand him, was
endeavouring to persuade him to keep quiet, he
exclaimed, " Ah, mother, know you not that the
spirit can only be at rest in the life awaiting us
beyond the present struggle P" There is much to
demand notice is various portions of these volumes
from the numerous personages introduced, and also
from the skill with which they are for the met
part pourtrayed to us. Some of Otto's acquaint-
ances in Copenhagen, 'such as Scott, Helzen, &c.,
are most graphically described. With the assurance
that cultivated abilities so often impart, they were
prepared to lay down the law for everyone ; and
they displayed that discrepancy between practice
and performance that is so often exhibited by
would-be philosophers, who are always prepared
to reform the world in righteousness when they
discourse on such subjects, but when they
mix in the vortex they are among the first to
look after themselves, and the foremost in strin-
gent judgment on others: Some of the home-life
of the country is very agreeably written in its
details, which, simple in themselves, furnish forth
abundantly the tastes and demonstrate the disposi-
tions of a people. In these pages the reader will
be introduced to a work that is peculiar in its way
and distinctive in its style from the generality of
novels, and he will find a difficult subject has been
for the most part successfully handled; and whether
the story in itself pleases all tastes or not the merits
remain the same of treating it in a suitable manner,
and of rising to the height that:is due in represent-
ing lofty ideas and unworldly thoughts in a congenial
spirit. It is one of the most arduous undertakings
in the whole range of literary skill in any way to
convey a correct notion, or describe in a successful
style such a character as Otto Kroyer; and inas-
much as he belongs to the exception and not to the
rule of humanity, so many will believe he is im-
probable or exaggerated. It is known to those
who have studiea such subjects that there are
many gifted beings who in early life have dis-
played quite as restless ideas and as unsatisfied
feelings with the world around them as the
hero of these pages. Some have outlived
the folly while they retained the brightnesisnfoof
their youthful visions, and in after years
have mellowed and matured their powers
that concentrated lustre that the dullest must
acknowledge and admire. There are others who
never get beyond the first part of the journey, they
like Otto do not live, or have not scope for their
powers, and thus their course is sad and uncertain.
This has been eloquently described in this work,
and will doubtless be appreciated by those who are
attracted by a book which suggests reflection, and
displays superior talent in many various ways,