The New York herald., 1869-05-31
LITERATURE.
Rsviewy or New Books.

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Reviews or New Books.
PROBLshkrI0 OHAKACfBas. novel. by Friedrich
spielhagen. From the German 6y Professor Sehee
de We're. Authors edition. New York: Leopold
Holt.
Ademocrat sud, It may be, dreamer, Spiehagen
never tires OF depicting the nobility OF Germany as
depraved class: evident freethinker, he s ever
introducing into his works questions OF psyche
logical nature. Thus the book before US Is partly
cynical attack upon the arist0cracy and partly trea
tise upon the human soul. And yet while Americans,
not having nobility, care nothing for attacks upon
them. except as they assume historic importance.
and. as general rule, feel but little interest IN Ger
man psychology as embodied In romance, viii
scarcely appreciate the one the other when they
are applied in local and not In general sense all
can read this book OF the best and most enter
tanning OF German novels.
'Problematic Characters'' u the story OF young
student, named Doctor Stein, who is employed by
Baron Grenwitz tutor to his son and nephew. He
goes to the barOnal castle determined hater or the
aristocracy and almost atheist In his religious
views. Here he makes the acquaintance OF Frau
Won Berkow, q wife OF thirty and the mother OF a
boy twelve years OF age, whose husband is hope
lessy insane. They fall in love with each other at
first sight, and Meitta FRAU Won BerkowI invites
him to visit her house. which he does there intro
duced to her temple OF love- declares his passion,
|
the death Of the lunatc to be made more human by
marriage. On his way to visit her. however, Doctor
stein meets with gypsy woman who foretels that
he will have "much happiness and yet not be
happy" and that he VIII be "the enemy Of men and
the friend OF women; quick to hate. quick to
TWO Is discovered by. Baron OdenDurg,
democratic nobeman who loves Metta, and
and two other couples who love iicitly in rather
awkward position, which winds up with Doctor
stein becoming jealous, and later III the evening
| Of frOu Emtl
Breesen, which he tells her is returned. Meantime,
surrounded by mobiles who look with contempt upon
him, and whom he hates, Oswald doctor Stein)
makes himself feared by his skill with the pistol and
s made friend OF by Baron Oldenburg for the sake
Of Mr. rmm, . young scrapgrace, the reader Is
permitted to discover that Oswald, the hater Of
wltz and the heir OF large estates-a fact OF which
he is ignorant Previous to this, however, Helen,
the daughter Of his employer. returns home from
school, the Intention being to make her marry her
cousin Baron Felix Grenwtz. proud spendthrift,
who looks with contempt upon Oswald. The love
between Emily and Oswald Is brought to an abrupt
conclusion by his telling her that h6 does not love
ner and she swearing to be revenged; something he
who. has gone to N. to see her husband die. Here
she is visited by Baron Oldenburg who warns her
not to cherish her love for Oswald, who, in spite
OF many noble qualities, Is not worthy
Of her. He (Oswald discovers the fact OF this visit
and again becomes jealous He returns to the castle.
where Baroness Grenwitz has intercepted letter
from Helen to friend. IN which she admits that she
loves him This letter the Baroness drops, and it Is
W,
pupil OF Oswald splendid character but one scarce
ly needed IN the work The boy, who loves Helen pas
ass sSrs A. aa rsnrn ne her ts su
This he does, and she virtually avows her love for
him by telling nun to read the letter. few days
later Bruno dies, and on the following day Oswald
and Baron Felix fight q duel, provoked by the in
science OF the latter who Is shot In the side aud is
crippled for life. The volume closes with Oswald in
love with Helen and ignoring Meitta, whose hus-
band Is dead and who has returned To her country
seat. The conclusion OF the story Will be published
Light"
line, Is the story before Every character IN J Is
u rarity, though not an impossibility. Such men
and women as are depicted IN 1t exist but they
the novel Is almost without plot II Is mar
rative, and one such as we seldom read. The Ian
mated and the general construction of the work ad
mlrable. IL never tires the reader. Taken alto
gether. spite Of faults which ObviOus-faults
in using the exceptional cases Of mankind to depict
human nature. faults IN certain norbidness oil ex-
preston in some parts and in an exaggeration OF
character and lack OF faith In humanity la others
in spite OF these faults 'Problematc characters' Is
work OF rare merit; and we trust that its sequel
will be as vivid In description and as entertaining To
the reader as II undoubtedly Is.
wINIFRHD. COUNTESS OF NrrHsDALE. A tale OF the
Jacobite Wars. by Lady Dacre New York; ID. q
j. Sadlier Co. 1869.
This is story OF the most ordinary character. It's
purpose appears to be sound the praises OF the
Countess OF Ntthsdale and to cxat the Catholics
England. So much has been written about the ia
eobite wars Of Great Britain. and Sir Walter Scott
has given to the world such great works the
same subject that everything inferior possesses but
little interest,". We do not mean to that there u
nothing OF interest IN IL book but IL Is so exceed
ingy mediocre that 1t would have been better had IL
never been written.
THE DODGE CLUB, OR ITALY IN 1859. BY James De
Mile. New York Harper Brothers.
With this work the many readers OF Harper's
Monthly have been made familiar. 1t having ap-
pesred in serial In the pages OF that magazine.
q IN n We
thing better calculated TO provoke smile than the
veracious history of the travels OF the Dodge Club
through Italy.
MANUAL OF TuK RAILROADS or rae USIrEp STATES
FOR Is69-10. BY Henry v. Poor. New York n.
V. d Il. w. Poor. 1859.
The second series OF this valuable manual IL quite
equal to the FIRST It gives full account OF all the
railroads in the United States, showing their mile
age, stocks. bonds, cost, trac, earnings expenses
and organizations. with sketch OF their rise. pro-
grcss. influence. &C.. together with appendix
tanning ul analysis fthe debts OF the United states
aud OF the several Statesr The book rs neatly
printed and bound and viii be found trustworthy
Tor reference.
MISCELLANEOUS.
We have received from Messrs. Fields, Ospood a
Go. copy OF their household edition OF Thackeray's
"vanity Fair" II Is neatly printed aud Ia hand
somely bound in green and gold We have also
ceved from Messrs. Harper Brothers q copy Of
the same work IN paper cover.
Messrs Appleton n Co. have sent US 'sThe Surgeons
Daughter and "Count Robert OF Paris,r by Sir
Walter Scott. Both OF these books belong to tho
twenty-five cent edition OF the waverley Novels
and are exceliently gotten up.i
Among the other books received are "A Practical
Manual Of the Treatment OF CubTootn I'd. Apple.
ton a Co.., Glow to Battle; q Family Guide" by
DIR. q. p Miller american News Company, both
well written books and Of interest to all; .he Code
OF Procedure OF the State OF New York." vau-
able little book published BY the Transcript Associa-
tion, and q publication caffsd mental Photo
graphs rather original album .for confessions OF
taste. habits and convictions.n
We have received several quarterlies and month
lies. which will be noticed hereafter.