The Portland daily press., 1872-09-21
Recent Publications.

'WHo WAS SHE?" OR ''THE SOLDIERS
BEST GLORY"
very interesting novel, quite above the
average. The plot is neither hacknied nor
very sensational, and the interest, begun
with the story is maintained to the end. The
book is well bound and printed. Published
by Claxton, Remsen and Haffelfnger, Phila-
delphia. For sale by Hoyt, Fogg and Breed.
EBB-TIDE AND OTHER STORIES: BY the
author of Morton House, Valerie Aylmer
&c. ..t .l...
brilliantly written novel by an author al
ready favorably known by former successful
works. The dialogue is sparkling and the in
terest and sympathy of the reader are excited
throughout. The three short stories contain
ed in the volume are very cleverly written
Published by d. Appleton & Co., New
York. For sale by Bailey & Noyes.
JOHN WooLMAN's JOURNAL: With an In
PRODUCTION by j. G. Whittier.
This Journalist the history of wise and
simple heart in its daily striving to bring the
inner light to bear upon the outward path.
No false shame or equally false pride mars its
unconscious sweetness which wins like til e
talk of child while it deals with the earnest
endeavor of man who lived to square his
deeds to his faith. An Introduction by
Whittier adds its fitting charm.
Published by James r. Osgood & Co. For
sale by Hall l.. Davis.
THE MAID OF SKIER: By R. D. Black
more. .rs.a..
This novel, which has appeared as a serial,
and is now published in book form by Har-
per & Bros. gives evidence ofpower and orig
inality. The story of the Maid of Skier is sup
posed to be told by an old Welsh fisherman
and is narrated in a very .racy manner, al
though his ideas and language are often quite
too sophistical, and give rather the impress
ion of a cleverly played comic part than of
consistent and really natural character. This
consciousness of an audience and constant
appeal to them by means Of premeditated
'points'', is fatal to the simplicity of writer
or an actor, and it is just here that the
maid of Skier" has failed. His Davy Lew
ellyn is personation, not person. There
is also decided nuance of coarseneSs and hy-
pocrisy in the character, which much dimin-
isheS the interest in the old fisherman. 1t
seems to us that the tone of the book would
have been improved, and the pleasure of the
reader increased, by different treatment in
this respect. The descriptions are graphic,
and the quaint baby talk of the little Maid OF
Skier is charming As story the book some
what lacks interest, being rather genre
study than a novel, but the plot, naturally
slight, has the merit of good old-fashioned,
happy termination. ...
For sale by Loring, Short & Harmon.
THE VICAR's DAUGHTER; BY GEORGE
MCDONALD. ID
This is one of the pleasantest, though by no
means the most powerful, of the writer's
books. His tendency to find sermons in
stones" and morals to everything, sometimes
leads him iito the nebulous realms of the
namby-pamby, And when he undertakes to
IL. .A:------ r--.l---4.f- .I,a fan,i,,inA
mind, he, like many another man, finds it be-
yond his capabilities, and accordingly deyotes
himself to "Gush'' in style more womanish
than womanly. Still there is is much to
praise in ''The Wears Daughter like all
Mr.. McDonald's works, it is written with
earnest purpose and is at the same time some
what more practical and less metaphysical in
tone than the preceding ones. Published by
Roberts Brothers, Boston. For sale by Loring,
Short and Harmon. a
Little Folk Life. A charming book for chill
dren, made up of several short stories by the
genial, irrepressible Gail Hamilton. The sto-
ries are simple, natural and bright; and it is
with much pleasure that we recommend them
to our little friends and their parents. Pub
lished by Harper and Brothers, New York. For
sale by Loring, Short and Harmon.
Doctor Vandyke. A sensational novel,
but decidedly of the better sort. The strange
superstition of second sight plays prominent
part in the action, which takes place in Reyo-
lutionary times. A happy ending, however,
makes amends for the preceding horrors,
which give the book quite the air of one of
Mrs. Radcliffe's romances. Several engravings
add to the general good appearance of the
book. Published by d. Appleton & Co.,
New York. For sale by Bailey and Noyes.
CHRISTINA NORTH. BY E. NJ. ARCHER.
A very beautifully written novel, and most
refined in style. The descriptions of English
life, and the development of plot and charac-
tiers are skillfully done. The sad story OF
Christmas mistakes and sorrows is told with
simple and true pathos, and the tragic termi-
nation is relieved from hopelessness by its pure,
elevated tone. The reader will lay down the
book with = not wholly unpleasing sadness,
and will take it up again to re-read some OF
the beautiful passages that have been hastily
| passed by in the interest of the narrative.
Published by D. Appleton & Co. New York.
For sale by Bailey and Noyes.
Poems. BY l.. G. THOMAS.
This volume contains a number of poems
of perhaps average merit. The author has
facility and some talent and has evidently ad-
mired and studied the best models. Almost
every poem is clearly traceable to the infu-
ence of some standard writer, and some
what incongruous effect is produced by the
imitation, probably unconscious, of Milton,
| Mrs. Hemans, Byron, Longfellow, Heine,
| Bryant and others. The book however has
its merits, including that first requisite, a
good tone; and certainly imitation of fine
models is better than the vagaries of those
poets who ''go west' for inspiration, and
who by means of slang, incorrect spelling,
profanity and doubtful morality of writing, en-
deavor to found the representative school of
American poetry.
Mr.. Thomas book is neatly bound, and
printed on tinted paper. Published by Carle-
ton, New York. For sale by Bailey and
Noyes.
STRANGE VISITORS. BY CLAIRvoYANT.
Published by Carleton, New Y ork.
THE BRooKEs OF BRIDLEMERE. BY G. ].
WHYTE MELVILLE, AUTHOR OF ''WHITE
RosE," "CERIsE," &c.
An uncommonly good novel of society
life in England; fully sustaining the reputa-
ton of its author as clever and brilliant
novelist The book is very entertaining and
gives evidence OF keen observation OF society
without bitterness or blase cynicism. Pub
lished by d. Appleton & Co., N. Y. For
sale by Bailey and Noyes.
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