New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-07-21

with illustrations by cl Valentine Fuoisnec
bv n l., Williams. For sale By Burgess d. SIrln2.r,
add By w. II. Graham, Tribune Buildings
Tbis book is the last mos, brilliant offspring Of
the prolific invention OF Dumas. 1t has as may
defects. ba, more merits, than most Of those which
have preceded 1t.
The conception is striking and original A man
young, generous, tender and resoote is through the
Injustice of one man and the malice OF more con.
demned to waste bis life in prison He has the
good fortune to come out with his powers unbro-
ken. The company Of one Of those persons, so far
beyond their age in intellect thstit deems them mad,
had educated him. Destiny had made him master
Of an immense fortune. The dreadful loss in the
wears of life the robbery of its bloom might have
been compensated by Improvement in the fruit, had
he, on leaving his dungeon, found his affections safe
fton the havoc of the storm. But his father was
dead of starvation the woman whom be loved aud
from whom he had been torn on the eve Of mar
riage, had forgotten him lightly and given herself
10 bis rival. His heart became rigid and los. all low
ing trust in the Power who had permitted such ap
palling bghts to fall on him and on his fellow men.
Life needing an object he constitutes himself an
avenging demon to punish those who have wrought
this i'll. For years he is dedicated TO this work,
and the plan, by which he at last draws all his prey
into the net is very well wrought and gives strong
continuous interest to the narrative. But the part
that is original is the ingenuity with which bis in
tellect and his wealth are broush, to bear on the
springs of society to SO great an extent There is a
good deal here characteristic of the poet and which
10 times when civic life shall become still more lux
urious and rapid will be looked back to with inter
r, IL. e ,b,t
They are early and barbarous, for NJ. Dumas with
the greatest desire to know how TO spend great
fortune and devotion of all his genius 10 thought
as to the means furnished thus far by modern in
ven,on for doing 3d. is oftenlmes vulgarly snowy
and shallow. 1t needs, not merely talent, but a
princey soul 10 act even this part grandly.
The book is full Of brilliant, scenes the rough
sketches OF character and place are always good
there are many passages showing knowledge of the
passions and that fermentation in the dregs Of life
commonly called The world, which no other man
could write. There is total want OF all that per.
manenty attracts and fixes all real depth and in
ward life. Monte Christie, abs,inent in the midst OF
pleasures feeding silently on his own heart letting
all the personages play out their natural parts, aud
only furnishing the occasions and means for them TO
misuse according 10 their tendencies, has &
certain superficial greatness Dunn as is a liberal
and sumptuous nature. and his African blood is
warm but he has no depth, and his characters can
have none Still his book is highly entertaining and
it is not the spice Of mysterious horrors sensual
excements that makes it so.
1t bears translaling very well and the translation,
which we have looked al here and there is toerabe.
But the translator does not seem to know how TO
render idioms. giving. for instance such phrase as
a they opened their enormous eyes, instead Of
"they opened their eyes very wide" which is quite
another thing The illustrations are kind OF
French comment on the book they will add TO its
interest with unmaginative readers, ipure i, with
those who could make, if not paper, better por
traits than these of the Count Mercedes or the lovely
Valentine.
The prettest part Of the book is what relates TO
Valentine. The place where she is in the habit Of
meeting her lover is charmingly described her re-
laton to her paralyzed grandfather beautiful. But
the finest Of all are the in which the old man
fiuds means to communicate his thoughts through
obstacles 90 extraordinary If part is not copied
from Nature, it is @ fine stroke OF invention and a
valuable addition TO Nature from the creative energy
of human mind.
If any prefer reading the work in the original it
may be found at the Office OF the Courier deS Etdts
Uais.