New-York daily tribune., 1862-05-16
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
VICTOR HUGO.

l. VICTOR HUGO. LES MIsERABLEs. FANTINE. 2
vols Svo PaIi' ragueue. New.iork: y. W. Chrstern.
2. IHK SANE vol Syo. pp Isl. kcwiork; Charles
Lnsssle.
After protracted silence as novelist, the
great master of the modern romantic school here
presents the ripest fruits Of his genius in form
that can only enhance the admiration which he
has almost universally won by the masculine vigor
Of his delineations the graphic fidelity of his ina
gerry, and his brilliant eloquence of expression.
The present work may be regarded as a romance
of real life in which the homeliest details are Gu
riously blended with exquisite touches of art, de-
voted to the incubation of lofty moral, but con-
cealing every trace of didactic purpose by the
vivid energy Of its colorDg, and the wonderful
dramatic skill with which the pfffoundest pas
sions are revealed beneath the greatest apparent
simplicity Of action and Of statement. No one
but Victor Hugo could give the impression of such
intense reality TO scenes and characters which, at
first blush. contradict all the ordinary experience
Of life The tissue of events which compose the
material Of this story mocks every sentiment of
probability; but so deity are they woven into an
artistic narrative, that the spirit of questioning is
slenced amidst the interest Of the development.
Not little of this is owing to the singular faith
iulness with which Victor Hugo reproduces the
minutest features Of familiar scenes. If he may
be compared TO Turner in the effectiveness of his
colorng, he is pre.Raphaelite in the precision
and exactness of his copying Of nature He repre-
sents the wel.known lineaments Of everyday
scenes with such startling accuracy, that the
reader iorgets how largely be draws upon imaglna-
ton for his exhibitions of character.
The personages who figure in the story are few
in number, the plot, for long time seems smoth
cred under succession Of isolated sketches, the
interest excited is Of very subdued nature, the
connection OF events is by no means apparent, and
the chief attraction consists in tho beauty and
grace of the delineation rather than in the fore
taste Of the tragic elements which give such a
somber pathos TO the denOuement. We are first
introduced to a miracle OF bishop in an obscure
diocese among the mountains OF France; then the
scene is diversified by tie appearance of a released
conyic. from the gale,s; aud we turn over many
pages before we are made aware Of the signii-
cance of Famine, from whom this portion OF the
story takes il. name With these slender mate
rails, as tie cardinal hinges Of the narrative, Victor
Hugo constructs the romance, which he designs
less as an example OF artistic ingenuity, than as
an Illustration OF the spirit Of modern society.
The few traits which va can present OF the
portraiturc Of the bishop Will give but faint idea
I ...fl J.it. OF n a
l;-,i.y.I - .Ls sioYina ranras of tho s"the"
The interior life of ~ Myriel was full of the same
thoughts q. his public life. Tie voluntary poverty,
ia which lie lived, would have been noble aud
lovely spectacle for every who could have seen
il near u. haud Like all old men, and Ike most
thinker Ia slept little. This briet slumber was pro-
found In the morning, he devoted an honr 70 SELF
recollection, then he said his mass, either at the
csthedrul OF a, home This done, he breakfasted on
piece Of eoaIse rye bread, dipped in milk. Then
lie went TO work.
A bishop is very busy man. Every day he must
receive the rscreiary OF the diOcese who Is usually
canon almost every cav, Lis chef curates. lie has
congregations TO regulate, privileges to grant, Il
whole ecclesiastical library 10 examine, mandates To
Issue prcachngs to authorize, the clergy ana mayors
10 reconcile with each other, clerical correspondence
administrative correspondence, on one hand tie civi
government, on the other, the Holy Sea- thousand
affairs.
rand affairs and from bis Offices and breyary, he de-
voted Ut first 10 the poor the sck, and the anc'edi
what remained from them, be gave to labor. Some
times he dag in his ga'den, someimes ho would read
end write. He had but one word for both these
kinda of mbOr-it was TO gGTdeA. "Ihe mlnd Is a
GARDEN" ho often said. Toward noon, III line
w,ather be walked ont in the country or in the city,
often Going into the old houses. He might be seen
trudgng on alone, absorbed in thought, his eyes
The ground, supported by his long cane dressed III
ria Vadded violet gown, which Was very warm, biz
bpe sroe kings in coarse shoes, and three-cornerod
hat vita gold tasses on his head.
II was a fcte wherever he appeared. You might
have ssid that certain warmth aud light attended
MA passiug by Children ami ola men came 10 the
door for The bi,bop a. for the He blessed, and
,b.V b,,.sed him. His house was pointed 10 who
ever needed anything Now and then he stopped,
sroke 10 the LIT boys and girls, and gave smile 70
,beir mothers lie visited the poor, rs long AS his
money held OUT Wheh II WAS kOne, he 'h"o" eHo
| rich. ,
unwilling it should be known, he always wore bis
pune gown when he went out Ills was httle
tn,densome in Summer. On his return, he dined.
The dinner WAS like the breakfast AT half past
eyht IN the evening, he supped with his sister Ma
dame Magloiro the old househeeper waiting on ta-
ne Nothing conld be more frugal than this repast
Sill If the bi-hop had one Of his craes to supper
Madame Magloire took advantage OF the occasion TO
,erve some excellent lake isb or some fine noun
,a;n pame Every curate was made the preteAt ios
GOOD supper, the bishop not opposing. With tins
exception he seldom tasted anything but vegetables,
and the painest soup. Thus II was common say
inc in the city: "When the bishop does not live like
a earate, he lives like Trappli."
Victor Hugo presents his bishop as the
model of working eeclesastic, but declines
committing himself as to the soundness OF his
faith.
Asto his orthodoxy, we will net be too inquisi-
u.fnr, q anni Ike hia We cnn only bow In