The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-28
LIT ERATURE.


GrstbtthMb vi new DOCAss
VISIT TO NY DISCONTINUED COUSIN. Roberts
Brothers, Boston.
The above Is the title OF a chatty, gosspy little
book pleasant reading to pick up Of an Idle hour.
Some Interesting anecdotes VIII be found inter-
! spersed throughout, the chapter entitled "A Ride
with Mcclellan" containing one OF the most notice.
able or these. The book Is OF convenient size ana
nicely gotten up, being No. of the volumes ap-
propriatey entitled ''rhe Handy Volume Series"
THE AMERICAN CARDINAL: A Novel. Dodd &c Mead,
Broadway, New York.
''The American CARDINAL Is a novel OF some merit
Its defects appear rather the result Of mexpenence
than OF want OF ability in the author 1t is certainly
work OF interest, and Is written with much spirit
the word-paintng being at times exceedingly vivid.
The opening scenes are taken from Incidents imme-
diately prior to the late rebellion, when the clouds
already gathering for the storm that was 80 soon
to burst over the unhappy South. The succeeding
pages are devoted to the exciting events OF the war;
anu surely wider field for romance and pathos'
could scarcely be found any page OF history. The
reader makes the acquaintance OF Arthur Cleveland,
as President OF q New England college. Cleve-
land becomes, through the agency OF Cath.
ole prelate the Bishop Frances\ convert
10 Romanism and a MEMBER OF the Society OF
Jesus Is before long honored with o mtre, and
finally succeeds to the dignity OF cardinals nat:
lie, OF course, Is designed AZ the hero OF the book.
yet there others who play roles OF almost equal
importance. Among these should be named Ed,
ward Ellngwood and Charles Austin (b0tn graduates
Of Ceveland's Colegel, and who may best be de-
scribed as types or Northern loyalty and Southern
Rivalry.
MILLBANK, OR ROGER IRvINGs WARD. BY Mrs.
Mary / Holmes author or Tempest and sun
shine" marion Grey "Ethelyn's Mistake" &c,
&c G. W. Carleton Co., New York.
Mrs. Mary !. Holmes Is so popular writer that her
works do not stand In need OF praise. In "Mill-
bank" which Is just out, and is dedicated to her
publisher, we have one OF her most charming books
1t is astory OF domestic life, yet or absorbing
interest II is fun OF powerful situations and
thrilling scenes while entirely devoid Of anything
like sensatonalism. Mrs Holmes possesses the power
Of fascinating her readers so thoroughly that It Is
dlficut to lay down her books unfinished, and,
especially is this the case In the present volume.
Yet the interest she creates Is Of 9 healthy and
abiding nature, ana her novels not only pass
many pleasant hours, but leave peasant memories
as we'll Her power in deineatng character Is so
great and her insight into human nature thor.
Ough that we never meet In her works with those
grotesque creations which appear only the offspring
OF the diseased brain OF an overwrought novel
writer, but with men and women who seem to live.
to think and act or and for themselves When the
reader lays down .Milbankn he feels as though he
were parting from companions and friends. We
could Wish, however, that Mrs. Holmes were freer
from fault unfortunately very common with lady
writers-that Of entering into too minute detail and
devoting too much space TO the description OF
meal or o costume. Passages OF this kind mar the
effect OF book. and give those portions OF It where
they occur u certain chdishness OF tone.