New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-01
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
MAITpRAT.

MAuPRAT. a Novel ny yyrSihia Vaughan lone, PIP.
" from the French 10y N"s''''
s2i Roberts BfoheiS' s,,; a, .o o~- !
Tha prstty little volume now before us is ~ 90
not mistaken. the first :. series in which Messrs'
- ,3;sse giving us an English version Oh VIC
-, F,opch novels OF the age. MaupI"
80 ONE 10 begin with 1t has never before Oo'"
,r,ea into our language and il is Tree IRON, '"o
e,triri,ies in politics. theology, ana moIaiS
,orAer some of Madame Dudevants Garner "e
tastcfnl TO people who cherish antiPu"'eu nV''O"o
,f RIGHT and wrong. The youth OF George S""" vac
abot and passionate period strangely III oonu"S'
-, 10 tr,nopl happness of her maturcr hie.
Tortured by wrotched marriage ana inc "'S'i"o0
results OF a bad moral education, chatting under re-
straints which she had never learned 70 respect M
famed with n,pulses which she could not distinguish
from, ,p.nirotions and probably the victim OF an an
oes,rol moral faint she passed the prime OF her
years in wild protests against social law ana 'nc
b6ldest assertions OF individual liberty III was NOT
until passion had first found vent IN the tempest tha'
her cenuis began to shine with that pure and steady
light which all the world has now learned 10 ADMIRE
She had rare power OF pOecal perception, without
deep philosophical iuSight and So While she seldom
got to the bottom Of social, political or religious
system She was carried away by the superficial
alluremcnts of one after another, and it was long
before the truths the sophistrcs and the beauties
became fused in the cruciblc of her own brain. At
one time she is enraptured with ST. Augustine and
resolves TO become nun; IN few weeks she has
gwen Mp her soul to Jean Jacques Rousseau. Lamen-
nais and Pierre LerouX, Byron, Leibnitz, Shake
speare and Chopin, each is in turn her idol ana
each leaves upon her mind a permanent impress Oh
his genius II was while her poetcal allegiance was
sill waverng, while her. domestic happiness was at
its worst and berTebeOn against social tyranny was
expressing itself in the form of coat and par o.
trousers that she made her first impression nron the
literary world by the remarkable s-oye of Indiana
In this she attacked the institution of marriage IN
subsequent romances, such as valentine anu
81 Aio She seemed 10 90 still further in her assaults
upon social Inconvenience and abuses IN SpI-
idiop" and "Consuelo" she developed a theological
radicalsn and gave eloquent voice to the socalisc
rriuciplps which she had borrowed from LerOuX.
Bur after She had obtained a legal separation from
her husband. placed herself beyond the reach OF
want and settled in that beloved home at Nohant
where she now illustrates the beauty of domestic
happiness and maternal affection, the disorders of
this ic0nOclaStc period were forgotten. Mauprat
was written after she had passed the age of forty,
and had seen something of the brightness OF life
as we'll rs its nIiseIies She had Just gained her
suit for divorce, and while composing this romance
10 occupy and calm her mind. she puposcd 10 show
upon " au eternal, exclusive lOye,-a love inspired
before. and continuing during and after marriage
Ii the story OF fierce brutal and lawless nature
conquered purified, and ennObled by the love of a
pure and intellectual woman; Of seven years strug-
gle against unruly passions rewarded at last by per
feet coniugal happiness Ii is told with exquisite
beauty Of phrase. and wonderful power of conCep
ton. Every chapter has the unmstakable impress
OF genius The political and religious theories of
The writer strongly cOlOTcd they at this date
by TIE influence of Rousseau, are conspicuous
without being tediously prominent OF Incl
dent there IS plenty. and the develop
incnt Of the narrative though subordinate
10 the dclineation of Mauprats character is carried
ont with the skill Of a cOnsummate artist Yet
while the sentiment of the novel is pure and the
moral elevated, cannot say that the impression
left by the story is altogether pleasant one. As,
after seven years of conflict, the demon in Mauprat
was not yet wholly conquered, so the animal nature
in George Sand was still occasionally lusty at the
age of fUuy-two. There scenes now and then
which VIC strive to forget, and vein Of sensuality
inns here and there through the most pOetical chap
tiers.
The charm Of George Sands style is too delicate TO
he uansplanted into another language, but Miss
Vaughan has preserved more of il than most trans
lators would have saved. The finer beauties, the
rich musical cadence,-these of course miss; but
adiruity and harmony remain which satisfy the ear
if they DO rot captlvate the imagination. The first
part Of the translation reads well that almost
forget the book was not written in English. Toward
tie end the translator has either lost patience
been hurried. and has done her best. If the
manning volumes of the series, however are trans
lated well as this, shall have reason TO COM
plain