The New York herald., 1871-07-11
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Criticisms Of New Books.
The WIFE OF VAIN MAN. BY Marie Sophie
schwartz. Translated from the Swedish by Selma
Borg and Marie A. Brown. Lee shepard, bos-
fishers.
The works Of the Swedish authoress, Madame
Schwartz, now being translated for the first time
into English. are becoming remarkably popular
The present volume, with Its peculiar yet most
appropriate title Is the fourth which has been pub
lished, and 1t al least equal to either OF It's prede
cessOrs The story Is full Of animation interest and
originality. The characters Of Ellen Ochard and
Count UnO Kerner are Of themselves study, and
the book Is altogether one OF uncommon merit. II
Is pervaded by air OF purity which deserves all
praise, or the writer's objects having apparently
been to set forth q truly high ana nObe.minded
woman, the light Of whose virtue shines resplendent
through the clouds and storms with which she is
surrounded. Through the life character and fate OF
Evert OF Ochard who tor the qualification OF petty
and culpabe vanity sacrifices oil that he should hold
most dear, healthy moral lesson Is conveyed,
while the writer's reflections, so judiciousy offered
throughout are never long enough to be tedious,
ana serve to awaken the readers highest thoughts
ana emotions. In the same volume will be found
short story entitled "A "Reminiscences Of Kreuz.
nach." This contains quaint and striking legend,
and Is Of itself sufficiently touching and romantic TO
thrill the heart Of the most experienced novel reader
REINDEER, Docs AND sNowsHoEs; Journal OF
years 1861. BY Richard J. Bush New YORK;
Harper Brothers. 1871. l2mo. PIP. 529.
This work is wholly narrative and descriptive.
The author was attached to the Russo-American
telegraph expedition which i've years ago made
explorations for line since abandoned or post
poned. Like the majority Of books Of travel It Ii
overloaded with detail, containing minute descrip.
ttOns OF trinng objects and every day adventures.
In his preface the author attributes Its publication
to the Importantly OF friends; but everybody who
travels and has friends Is to make big book what
Will become of our literaturei A lack OF literary
skill prevents Mr.. Bush from adornng HIS subject,
and In this respect his book is inferior to that OF
Lieutenant Kennan, who traversed much OF the
same ground In the same expedition. and whose en-.
ertanlOg "Tent Life In Slberia was published last
year.
HANS BRETMANN IN EUROPE. Fifth series Of the
"Breitmann Ballads.u BY Charles G. Leland.
Philadelphia: 7. u. Peterson d Brothers. 1871.
| l2mo. PIP. IS.
This will never do Mr. Leland Because we have
| laughed over "Hans Breltmann's Barty," and sha-
ken our sides at "Sherman's March to the Sea-" 1t
doesn't follow that We must read and admire such
lees ana drippings of the Deutsch- English humor
as this Th series Of ballads, which had far better
| "ge-stopt" with the second. When poetical
humorist is so reduced IN his material as to depend
| on that lowest form OF witpuns to make bis
| rhymes tnteresting-when he thinks to smuse the
olaSe public with "Ostend-sibly" ana "ZouaUter In
nsodo," he had better turn his Pegarcus out to
| grass. There are some good lines and funny verbal
ingenutles in the book, but the bulk OF 1t bathos
| In the poem headed, "Breltmann Interviews the
Pope" the author dips into macar0nlcs IN four Ian.
| guages, thus
| sSr verbo vena," said Hans; "permitte,
| Sancte Pater
Mum verum est ut noster rum
gemixta est NIT waterf
In ooelis wo die gotter live,
| Semper est sereuo,
Nor de vein ash gOot ash deceit In
Each spaccio df vino".