The New York herald., 1870-06-16
LITERATURE.
Criticlsms of New Books.

CrtticsSm8 OF new BOOKS
ROBERT GREATuoUsE. An American Novel. BY
John Franklin swift. New York: Carleton, pub.
Usher.
1t was not necessary to read through the five hun.
dred and seventyhree pages or this book to be
vinced that they aid not contain the American novel
which has been coming these many years, but which
has somehow not yet appeared. And yet this novel
is in all respects better than the average American
work Of fiction. The author Is evidently man Of
ability. His style of writing displays force and char.
acer But he lacks experience in novel writing and
as consequence his work Is faulty constructed,
aud all thar is good IN 1t IS spoiled by the clumsy
manner In which Nj. Swift has grouped his clarac-
ters The scene OF the story Is laid In California and
Nevada, and as might be supposed, there Is great
deal about mines and mining shares, wild cat com.
panies gambling hels and gambeis-in fact, little
OF every peculiar feature OF life the Pacific coast
IN tae days now, happily, almost ended. The de-
scrptons OF scenes ana narration OF incidents in
the main good, ana the dialogues are always ami
mated ana interesting. The characters, too, are
ana bravado, who has shot so many men
that he has won the unenvlabe distinction OF 'the
met with IN the early days Of California llfe His
combination OF the assassin and bacKieg with the
nohle-hearted gentleman Is singular, butby 10 means
Impossible, and we can imagine such being rlskng
his life Tor The woman he l9y.s and yielding up all
Claim to ner when lie learns that she does not love
him. ~JGIA Gurdy, the stage driver is also capital
ings we sometimes meet with in the West and South,
beneath whose rough exterior beats brave, manly
Bloodsione, lr. Withergreen, Mr.. Spelter ana the
rest are not bad conceptions and are not badly de-
scE9ea Tas s2r:st e9aE9eIer e n !hs eGoS is ne
incapable OF describing woman. But putting that
element aside, almost every character IL well drawn
Nevertheless the novel is poor one-poor, because
the authors capacity seems limited to wiring. He
has shown no Skill as an artist. 1t Is doubtful il he
had any plot in his mind when lie began writing.
Had he devoted five or six months to planning his
work and arranging his characters symnetrcalIy we
feel sanguine, from what he has so crudely and
ni lnlQ u hat hn Anl1 hnun n.I,rrn1
nance more nearly reaching to the long looked for
American novel than anything else we have SO far
seen.
The Gagged LION. A Novel. BY Charlotte NJ
Yonge. New York: ID. Appleton Co.
This novel is founded on history, and although
Miss YOnge is guilty OF several anachronisms In the
work, the which she frankly confesses, her story
evidences much study OF the historical events upon
which 1t Is founded. The scene is laid In the days
Of Henry V. or England We are shown King Harry
as the kind-heartcd monarch whose peculiar rela-
tons with his prisoner, James Of Scotland, formed
one OF the most interesting features Of his life. DICK
Wilmington Is also introduced, the story Of h 8
famous cut repeated the scene OF being Rnghted
by King Henry described yhe usual love story runs
through the novel, might be supposed. but 1t Is
subordinate 70 the historical parts which are
cleverly worked up. The hero and heroine are both
inventions, and are admirable persons. "The Gagged
Lion" IS altogether work Of decided merit. MISS
Yonge never deals IN the sensational, bat she de-
scribes stirring scenes and 1mparts to her ative
sufficient life and adventure to make it-what this
book is-interesting from beginning to end.
THE Juno STORIES. BY Jacob Abbott Volume
Flrst-Juno and George. Volume Second--Mary
Osborne. New York: DOdd Il Mead.
In these volumes OF stories. which are intended
solely for children, 1t is the aim Of the author to
unite religious instruction with secular entertain
ment. This object, 1t seems to us, Mr.. Abbott has
fairly attained. Both volumes well written, aud
deserve, as they viii doubtless have, large circulG-
tOn AS presents for children they are also worthy
OF praise. The mechanical execution is excellent,
the paper being White and clear and the print large
and PLAIN While the binding Of red ana gold on one
volume and green ana gold on the other are de-
ctdedy attractive for Their elegance.