The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-01
BOOK NOTICE.

CANoRs; OR, LIFE UNDER THE NEW EMPIRE. From
the French OF Octave FeuilIet, author of The Ro
nance OF a Poor Young Man." New York Bleock
Co. 1868.
We must protest against such fanciful changes as
translators sometimes make in the titles Of the
books which they "do into English" octave Feuillet
would join in protest against the substitution OF
any other title for the simple OF IN. De Camorsn
which he doubtless determined upon no less deliber-
ately than upon the contents OF every other page in
the volume. Like most OF the productions Of this
very popular author, the original of the present
translation is distinguished less by power of inven-
ton than by delicate sentiment by fine analysis and
by all that somewhat recherche grace which Alfred
de Musset brought into fashion. II differs, however
from the lighter works OF Octave Fcuiet In
presenting q more terrible and appalling pic
ture than he has previously attempted Of what
has been defined as ''life without God and without
hope In the worlds II Ia, therefore, not merely
picture OF fashionable life IN France under the pres
ent empire ts new English title suggests, but
it has much wider significance, and as Emile Mon
tegut. leading French critic observes, 1t wi ever
remain the truest picture that be drawn OF those
existences wholly devoted to the demon OF the
world, brilliant in appearance, the culpable
triumphs OF which are followed by expiations so
bitter and fearful" This observation Is cited in the
translatOrs preface, which describes the Count
de Camors as being to French life to-day what
Pelham was to English, adding "Nor does II fall
below that famous novel In delineation OF character
and interesting incidents. with the superadditlon OF
vivid narration and the highest tragic power Besides
all this. II points q moral, which Pelham does
not. II teaches lesson useful here In France.
viZ.:-That the best gifts OF nature and fortune may
prove only snares to the possessOrs when unaccOm.
panied by staunch morality and a sense that the
highest worldly success will not command happl-
ness, and that honor without religious faith is but
broken reed TO lean upon.
The rigid and almost savage morality Of this work
or Octave Feuet and OF the recent preiaces Of Alex
andre Dumas Ills are noteworthy signs Of a reaction
against the id0lary OF material interests and OF
sensual pleasures which has 50 long reiGned In
Paris and which, In fact, regns in every great me-
tropois The striking contrast which Octave Feuil-
lei draws between The fever OF city life and
the heathfu tranquility o. country life must
have had all the charm OF revelation to
many Parsians. Whatever may be thought Of the
father OF the Count de Camors, OF the Count himself
or OF the Marquise de Campvalon, actual types OF
q certain class OF French society, none can deny
that the old Marquise de Campvalion is noble
ton or fail TO be deeply Interested IN Madame dc
Tecle and her daughter. The style OF "Count de
Canorst" is admirable; and although the transla-
ton seems TO bear marks or more than one hand II
is far superior to the average OF TRANSACTIONS from
French novels. We shall be glad if its success lead
TO the presentation In suitable English dress Of
other choice works OF French fiction OF the better
class. Octave Feuilet, the successor OF Eugene
Scribe at the French Academy In 1862, has himself
largely contributed to the number of works OF that
class which IL vastly richer and more extensive than
Is Imagined by those who ignoranty associate with
French literature only the names OF Eugene Sue and
Paul de kock.