The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-17
Victor Kugo's New Novel.

The London Publishers Circular says:-
1t appears that an authorized English trans
larion of NJ. Victor Hugo's novel, 'By the
Kings Order" will not appear here until some
mcnths after the publication of the original,
at least not in a complete form. The right of
translation has been purchased by Messrs.
Bradbury Evans, at the price, it is said, of
one thousand pounds-perhaps the largest
sum ever yet paid for the right to translate
French work. After this, it cannot be said that
French authors had not very substantial iu-
terest in the copyright convention between
France and this country. The English version
will, in the first place, make its appearance in
the pages Of Once a Week, the first instalment
appearing in January next on the completion
OF the Baroness Blaze de Bury's "All for
Greed" The editor of that journal regards the
fact of M. Hugo's novel being story of Eng
lish history as atfording an additional guaran-
tee of success with English readers, its scene, as
we have already mentioned, being laid in
England during the reigns of William the
Third and Queen Anne. Whether NJ. Hugo's
prediction that his work will contain new and
authentic facts of great Importance to English
history, and which will surprise English his
torians, will prove true, we cannot say; but
there can be little doubt that the work will
contain fresh examples of that great power of
which the writer is so prodigal in the "MsGra-
bles." There is, however, alwayssa difficulty
pice-meal publication, into portions fitted to
sustain the interest from number to number in
a weekly periodical. With NJ. Victor Hugo
this difficulty will probably be still greater,
from his we'll habit of DEPRESSING and
philosophiziDg. If we might be permitted to
offer a suggestion on this subject, we would
recommend the publishers to obtain the per-
mission of its illustrious author to omit por-
tiOns, if any there be, similar to the chapters
on the sewers of-Paris in the "Mis6rables, )" or
the discourse on architecture in Notre Dame,
giving the tale entire. only in the complete
edition. No one who has read the "MisG-
Tables'' can fail to perceive what a powerful
tale might in this way be secured for a weekly
or monthly serial or how easily even that
wondrous story might fail to hold the atten-
tion of periodical readers if given intact.
Readers who were so long delighted "once
week" by Mr.. Chas. Readers "Foul Play"-to
our mind inoomparaby the most successful
story ever written, regarded from the point of
view of weekly periodical-will not be re-
concled even by NJ. Huso's genius, to
on the Democratic Idea, as in the "Mil CRADLES, "
or rhspsodizing on clouds aud winds, as in
the ''T0iers ofthe Sea-" Eccentricties of this
kind may be pardoned in three volumes, and
Nj. Hugo occasionally allows himself ten. His
admirers have long ago been reoonciled to
them, as English readers have to Mr.. Dickens
peculiarites, but weekly readers are an impa-
tient race, and the small space accorded to a
story-teller in weekly miscellany warns him,
as a rule, to get to business, and postpone
moralizing and theorizing until he can secure
more canvass for his picture.