The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-09-21
Light Literature.

Doctor JACOB. By NJ. Betham Edwards. Lon
don Bradbury, Evans & Co. Charleston
John Russell.
This book, the third of the "Handy-Vol-
ume Series," collection of novels marked
by admirable discrimination, and in point
of typographical finish and execution leav-
ing nothing to be desired, is a thoroughly
original and very charming story. The
author leads US entirely out Of the beaten
track, and the sketches of life and manners
in the once "Free City" of Frankfort-on-
the Maine, and of the grand German Con-
federate Schutzenfest, are full of singular
freshness and vivacity. Doctor Jacob is an
entirely new character in fiction, and as an
artistic study is marked by very unusual
power and insight And Kstchen-darllng,
beautiful, golden-haired Katchen with
her lissome figure, her earnest blue eyes,
and her simple girlish charm Of manner, is
az EXQUISITE a sketch as we remember ever
to have seen. That it is one of the saddest
of stories does not lessen the charm Of this
remarkable book. The authors originality
is shown no less in the treatment Of her
principal characters, than in the boldness
with which she dscards the conventional
poetic justices of modern fiction in the wind
ing up of the. threads of the story. We
feel all the more forcibly the naturalness Of
the result, and there is something finely
artistic in the way in which the hero ofthe
book is made himself to realize and COM
prehend the truth which his life has 80 well
illustrated, ssthat the most generous soul,
tthe most tender heart, the most liberal
sshand, avail nothing without integrity Of
sspurpose. We may console ourselves in
"youth and in middle Life by, so to say,
can illegitimate virtue; but in old age truth
s.in its nakedness and beauty takes alright,
ssand leaves us sitting in dust and ashes and
ssprone humiliation. We may defy the
sprejudices and authority of men, and set
sup for ourselves codes and statutes in
(which pleasantness takes the place of prin-l
"ciple, and loose liberalities Of sentiment
stake the place of universal charity and
Glove Of human kind. No matter;-we de-
sceive ourselves-we deceive others-we
"cannot deceive God, or fee from His 81
"]ent reproaoh at the last" We repeat,
that Doctor Jacob is very remarkable
book. The whole of the last chapter is
prose-poem Of singular beauty and psthos.
It is one of those books which make one
dissatisfied with oneself, whose memory is
q perpetual suggestion Of something bet
ter, possible, for all of us,-a continual
provocative of that 'tnoble discomfort
which, rightly understood and fostered, can
alone make life pure and great.
GOETHE AND SCHILLER. An Historical Ro-
nance. From the German Of Louise Muhl-
bach New York D. Appleton & Co. Charles.
ton John Russell.
This is the latest issue Of the series
of historical romances which have
won for Miss Muhlbaoh q popularity
in this country even exceeding that which
che has attained in her own. In this mar
rative, her magic pen invests the career of
the two great German poets with new
charm, and those who have enjoyed the
previous reprints of the fair authors works
will have reason to welcome this book with
even greater zest. Like ell the issues of
the AppLEroN's, it appears in an attractive
dress, and is adorned with spirited full page
illustrations by CASTOR FAY.
From the prolific presses of the same
publishers we have several new volumes of
their marvellously cheap edition of standard
works, embracing "The Poetical Works of
Milton" complete, fifty cents; "Peter Sim
ple," by Captain MARRYArr; also "The
Pirate" ""The Monastery" and 1.-THE Abbott"
by SCOTT, at twenty-five cents each; and
the second volume of the library edition of
the works of CHARLES DICKENS, containing
Nicholas Nickleby, Martin Chuzzlewit,
and American Notes. This edition, hand
somely bound and clearly printed, is sold at
81 rs per volume.
All the above works may be had of JOHN
RUSSELL, King-street.