The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-17
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REVIEW OF VIEW BOOKa


GA Critical Dictionary of English Literature"
bv S. Austin Allibone,. This great wora is
remarkable in many respects. It is a Bio
graphical and critical dictionary Of English
literature from the earliest accounts to the
present time, and il gives every important
fact that it has been possible % collect about
the different authors and their writings, with
critical opinicns by DR.. Allibone himself, as
well as by other authorities Not only are
all the writer's who have achieved fame re-
corded but DIR. Allibone has thoroughly ex-
ploreS all the byways of literature, and he
has Included in his Dictionary" the names
and the works of all authors, no matter
how triHing their performances may
Aave been. Such q task as this
would seem to be an impossibility
If the evidence were not before us that it has
been performed while the value OF the work
to all students of English and American lite
rature can scarcely be overestimate1. The
Dictionary is perfect marvel of research
and unwesried industry, and it is so complete
that there is probably nothing that needs to
be added to it except the literary perform
ances of the immediate present, and the
future. It would seem at first glance thatit
is superfiuous to include in such a work as
this the names of authors of sermons, pam
pblets, and other ephemeral productions; but
the permanent value of. such awork as this
depends upon it's absolute completeness, and
DIR. .Allibone has certainly done right in Civ
ing everything. The sole defect of the work,
so far as we are able to discover, is that the
accounts of living and recently y-deeeased
authors are incomplete. This, of course, is a
defect necessarily inherent in the very nature
of such "a production. DIR. Allibone and his
publishers are entitled to sincere coa-
gratu ations on the fact that this ''Dic-
tionary" has been brought to a conclusion,
and it viii ever remain literary performance
of which Philadelphia may well be proud.
The volume before us appropriately finishes
the t.Dictionary" with series Of indexes and
sub-indexes of subjects, which Of course adj
greatly to its practical value. t-r'
j. B. Lippinoott & Co. also send us Parts
30 to 81 of ''The Universal Pronouncing Die
tionary of Biography and Mythology, byJ.
Thomas A. NJ, M. D., which complete the
work. This Dictionary, on account of its
completeness and the learning and industry
required for its preparation, is the only work
of lis class in tie English language that is
Allibohe. Twenty years were spent by DIR.
Thon1asi in its preparation, and while its def
nitions are necessarily brief, it is probably as
complete as it can possibly be made. In
important cases the reader is always referred
to standard authorities from which further
information can be obtained, and as a work
of,reference in biographical and NEUROLOGICAL
subjects 1t will be an invaluable addition to
any library. One of the most important fea-
lures of this work is that the pronunciation
of all the proper names are given in the diff
ferent languages, and it is accompanied by a
preface and introduction which are valuable
pathological essays, and which explain with
great clearness the system of pronunciation
adopted. We have frequently consulted this
''Dictionaryp while it has been ia course of
publication, and can bear testimony to its
great yalue.
II. Petersen & Brothers send us "rhe
Lost Beauty; or, the Fatal Error" This is
romantic story of much interest, in which
various phases of Spanish life are described
in picturesque and attractive style.
-Claxton, Remsen q Haffelfiuger send rs
''Sir Harry Hotspur of Humblethwaite," by
Anthony Trollope, published by Harper &
Brothers. This novel, like its predecessors
from the same pen, is minute and elaborate
picture of everyday life and everyday
people The principal characters are deline-
ated with all of Mr.. Trollope's accustomed
skill, and the story is one that his admirers
will undoubtedly read with pleasure.
From John Campbell, No. 7iO Sansom
street. We have received part Ne. u of "a
History of the State of Delaware" by Francis
Vincent, which briags the work down to the
events of 1862.
From the Central News C3npany we
have received the latest numbers of Punch
and Fun; also two copies, one bound aud one
in pamphlet, of the speech of General Thomas
#. Burke, delivered May 1, 1867, in the
Court House, Dublin, on being esked by
Lord Chief Justice Whiteside why sentence
of death skould not be pronounced against
him. Appended to this is a recent article
from Che London Spectator on the a-Fenian
Amnesty"
-''rhe New Pocket Gside and Street Di-
rectory CT Philadelphia" published by 4. r.
Callender Co., is useful little work, the
title of which is sufficiently explanatory. It
is.accompsnied by = large map of the city.
From the American Sunday School Union
SSe have received tae February number of
TIE Sunday at Home, finely illustrated
Epelish magazine for Sunday reading.
-qhe February nunber of the Chicago
Bureau contains a numker of vsluable art-
cles on Protection and Free.tTaSe, and a