The Portland daily press., 1866-04-05
! RECENT PUBLICAr1oNs.

The STORY Of KENNETT, BY Bayard Taylor. ojns
Folume l2mo. New York; Hurd and Houghton
, Amidst the Hood Of intensely wrought and sensa
tonal romances which the press is constantly pour
ing out Upon us, 1t is refreshing to meet with one &c
quiet in its tome SO little pretenous in plot or style
as this IT isa simple story. simply though well
told, and pitched throughout in an unusua " low
key most grateful to the reader stated with sensation
horrors. The period Of the noyer3is theend of the
last century. The scene is laid in and around the
village of SKennett Square in Southern Pennsylya-
mia, where the earlier years ofMr Taylor's own M,
were passed. and his descriptions of the natural ea
lures of that lovely and romantic region have the
yivldness and accuracy which long familiarity might
wen give them. The local names introduced are real
ones, and the pictures of houses and farms are taken
from actual life, and drawn with the faithfulness OF
one who loves the thing he paints. Many Of the
characters too are sketehed from life, among which
are Betsy Lavender, theeccentrc but delightful old
maia, SANDY Flash, the hishwayman, and Deb.
Smith, his masculine and yagabond confederate. OF
other personages in the tale may be said that If not
real they are swell invented" DR.. Deane. the half
sincere, halt hypocritical Quaker physician with
his responsibility, spotless rues, and garments
haiing an .'odor Of bergamot and sweet ma-oram -
the Bartons, father and son. with their perfectly dis
tinct types of neanness the lively Sally Fai,thorn
who goes through the book tearing her gown on Ia
bles and door-handles Joe and Jake, the irrepress
bic youngsters-all these are admirably done. Gill
bert and Martha, the hero and heroine are also in
the main satisfactory. .'l % = -
The most powerful passages in .the book are nm
questonab!y those which relate to Sandy Flash and
his wretched partner, Deb Smith. The character of
this woman strikes us the best in the story. The
mixed and contradictory elements of her wild and
untamed nature the conflict arising out of her graf
itude to Gilbert her lingerinSlove tor Sandy and her
anger at his brutal treatment, and her fiery remorse
when she has betrayed him to his DEATH are exhibit
cd with dramatic force. There are points in the
which remind one OF Dickens Nancv In
ami truth to nature think Deb Smith
does not suffer in comparison with that powerful Gre
alton. ~
we 90 not propose to sketch, even in outline the
story OF Kenneth referring the reader, for this, to
Uie DOCK ITSELF The plot, though simple, is well
out, and the interest, never other than quiet
50 S'ailled to the end. The reader will find here
,.e pungent satire and telling hits at popular
"n'ch distinguished "Hannah Thurston ], nor
a.. 'Aihg incident and attempt at roman
~, "'oh were exhibited in s,Jobn Gods,or >,
-, III an artistic point of view IN oil
.n sose " make up well Constructed no,oI -.
tnihk Tile story OF kennett" must ho n,..-.'.S'
superior to either of Mr.. Taylor,s onouncea
Ii not ambitious in design or especalI -, "orAs'
ecntion it yet has wonderful flavor oe ina. Lex
lbeut it, and it's fresh and vivid delneationa
chase of American life which has never bet VI
painter, would give it degree OF interest," aae
Vere its other merits less positive than they are "a
S a book which cannot fail to increase the areadr
high reputation of its author; and it compes us to
leelare that ii Mr.. Taylor is not the "great Ameri
AN novelist" whose advent has been predicted, he
ertainly comes nearer to it than any writer with
nose works we are acquainted, and his chances of
liti,natey achieving that position are by no means
mall.
Davis Brothers have the book for sale.