The New York herald., 1871-03-18
LIT ERATURE.
Criticisms ON New Books.


SKETCHES OF MEN OF PROGRESS BY James Parton
Bayard Taylor, Amos Kendall, Rev. L. D. Mayer,
J. Alexander Patten, ami other writer's Embel-
lfshed with handsome steel portraits New York
and Hartford Publishing Company, No. Al Park
row, New York.
We do not exaggerate when we say that there
have been few books published In the United States
which can compare with this In elegance OF execu.
ton. 1t Is massive volume, printed with large,
clear type on heavy gilu-edged paper The binding
Is a model OF chaste and handsome work. In fact,
the mechanical execution OF the book rejects the
highest credit upon the publishers who have evi-
dently spared expense in their effort to produce
a work which would equal anything produced in
England or France
The contents OF the book are very interesting.
They comprise numerous sketches OF prominent men
or this city and other parts OF the country. Bogra-
ply Is the most difficult branch or literature and to
be entertaining must be well written. At the same
time has been well said, biographical works are
the most valuable Of all literary productions because
they combine all the records OF the worlds progress
History after ALL is but the narration Of the deeds OF
men, and is, consequently, nothing more than gen.
eral biography Of the men who made themselves
conspicuous In the country written on So, In like
manner, the history OF the United states Is TO be
found in the lives OF individuals whose prominence
as t'men Of progress' are illustrations OF the
prOgressiveness Of republic. In the present vol.
ume sketches are given OF numerous distinguished
Americans. George w. Childs. OF the Philadelphia
Ledger; Galusha A. Grow, David Dudley Field, Rev.
DR.. Chaplin, William II. Vanderbilt Daniel Drew,
William Cullen Bryant. Governor Hoffman, william
Il. Webb and ex-senator Edwin d. Morgan are
among the list of gentlemen the record of whose
lives is to be found here. These names are only
few OF the many sketches Of equally promI-
nent men whose biographies are given, and we
mention them merely to show the character OF the
work. Among the writers who contributed to the
work are James Parton, J. Alexander Patten, r. H.
Greer and other equally we'll known biographers.
Altogether "Men Of Progressv Is q fine work. AS
we stated IN the foregoing the mechanical execution
Is superb the numerous steel enGravlngs which en-
belllsh the book are admirable and the general ap-
pearance is decidedly "taking" The publishers,
the New York and Hartford Publishing Company,
OF Mo- Al Park row. in this city, deserve credit for
the enterprise they have displayed In producing a
work so unexceptionable in every respect.
.DAIsY NICHOL." BY Lady Hardy, author OF "a
Casual Acquaintapce,n "paul Wynter's Sacriace,u
&C., &c. Harper Brothers. Franklin square,
New York. 1871.
This is an English romance. II is exceedingly in
teresring the best, perhaps, Of the authors works.
and certainly of the most acceptable OF the re-
cent additions to the "Llbrary OF Select Novelsn
The events OF the first chapters, whereby the hero
Inc Is left an orphan, are sufficiently tragic to arrest
the attention OF the most practsed novel reader,
and the interest thus early created Is well sustained
throughout the book The characters are drawn
with ability and consistency. Mabel Beresford, fair
and false, and honest loving little Daisy, are both
skilful creations The flaw In the plot seems to be
this-that the great love of an honest mans life
should be so unworthly bestowed. and that Daisy's
truth and fidelity should be so illrequited. The
reader is aggravated by the exhibition OF the whole
wealth OF her love being The feet Of one who
blinded by his passion for another is SO little capa-
ole OF appreciating 1t.