The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-15
SERIAL AND OTHER NOVELS.

rary week.-Mrs.
Novels arc turned into serials. and the serials
become novels for the same excellent purpose
Mr.. r. W. Robinson's "Little Kate KIRBY" for in
stance served to advertise the paper IN which 1t
was printed and the paper, at the same time ad.
vertised 1t.
Now IL comes 10 MS In the shape or book for q
critical notice. and the result Is more advertising.
AL this Is very ingenious
Much more ingenious than Mr.. Robinson's latest
novel.
Mr.. Robinson evidently writes TOO much to write
we'll Since the achievement Of his first successes
he appears to believe In the vitality OF all his
stories. He ought to understand what his readers
quickly apprehend that his heroes and heroines
are only gilded beings There is not fairly drawn,
Thoroughly individualized character in "Litte
Kate Kirby" Little Kate is the least interesting
or important OF the lot and, though the book may
be said to be readable" 1t makes no impression
on the mind.
In marked contrast to this feeble story is 1.-THE
Parisians" of Lord Lytton.
1t appears to have been the purpose OF this dis
tnguished of letters and OF the world to bring
into his last work ali his knowledge OF men and OF
aife. He gives US characteristic Frenchmen OF
every class-the Marquis de Rochebriant, legiti
mist, very proud and very poor; M. Lemercier, MS
old college friend, a beau garcon; M. Duplesss,
Bourse that is Frenca Wall street) gambler; M.
Savarin, distinguished journalist OF the elegant
| fueton school: NJ Gustave Remeau. another
journalist, representing in his person and in his
| writings the brliancy and the 1cebeness OF the
] new Paris under the second Empire; NJ Louvier,
banker anxious for social consideration, and with
designs upon Rochbriant's estate; and other speci-
mems OF French society," drawn by the hand of an
Engishman. Lord Lytton gives us other charac-
teristc specimens of the people to be found in
/ FIJI tn tata
girl the Adelna Patti Of the future: Mr.
Graham vane. an Englishman and Colonel NJ orley,
an American. All these make the figures in the
foreground OF picture painted with great effect.
Thereare blemshes, OF course, and some OF these
are very funny. The American gentleman is made
TO call magnificent reception at the house OF y.
Louvier a ''been and to say to yane, the English
man, Il am glad sir, to hear from my wife that You
dine with us tomorrow. Sir, you will meet Mile.
Cicogua, apd am not without kinkle tnat you
will be enthused." This is supposed to be an
American phrase, but we believe few Americans
will be able to understand it; hence we explain
that "Knkle" was regarded by Lord Lytton as an
Americanism for notion. Another Of Lord Lytton's
funny blunders Is to make cigars become the more
excellent as they get older. The old Lord evidently
had no appreciation OF the flavor OF ''rea Ha-
vana." Cigars, like champagne and Lord Lytton's
novels, are best when they are fresh.
| Now that Lord Lytton dead where shall we
look for the freshest Of the fresh novelist
His mantle, without question, fell upon the
shoulders Of Wikie Collins.
The stage carpenters are already at work upon
the New Magdalen," ana it is said Miss Carlotta
J Leclercq has secured the right to play it.
1.-THE New Magdalen," as far as the advertising
process Of publication has allowed us to see 1t, is
equal to Mr. Collins reputation. 1t is as remark
able in plot any Of the great novels which pre-
coded 1t and there IS the same old skill IN the de-
/ lneation OF character as before 1t win not make
o "goodyn book, but 1t will be great book. Grace
Roseberry the false rather than the true, Is a
| more remarkable heroine even than the "Woman
in White and it is not singular that the stage
| penters seize upon this creation as ut exponent
! OF the emotional drama The troubles and the
| false position OF Alike slight comparison,
and there is telling the quantity OF tears that
| viii be shed over the actress who portrays Mercy
| Merrlck, the lost woman who stole her way back
after vainly trying to fight her way back to home
and name.
"Bressant," Mr.. Julian Hawthorne's novel, will
soon DE finished a serial. and issued In book
| form.
/ 1t Is entirely unlike anything the elder Haw-
/ thorne wrote would have written. We miss the
| quantness, the simplicity, the originality, the
nameless essence and fragrance which gave Ma
thaniel Hawthorne the first place in American lit
| erature. For all this, rather in spite Of the
| want OF all this 'Bressant' is q very good book
| dull sometimes, overl2den with words, far from
being crisp either In phase or ideas-but very
| good book, giving promise Of much better things
] In the future.
We are told that about hundred and fifty per-
sons, male and female, constantly employed
| getting up ever new rehashes OF that delectable
compound-the religious novel.
Mo- INF ts nr n unlln hoe
semirengious poems, from "Bitter Sweet" to The
Marble Prophecy were the sources of SO much
| fun.
arthur Bonnicastleu Is perhaps the weakest
thing that was ever called novel. In Mr.. Brad
ford ana his daughter Mile, there indications
OF skill in drawing character, but the religious dis
cussions utterly destroy the book a work OF art,
| and the ;eebleness OF these discussions renders it
useless a controversial pamphlet. Its author IL
the American Upper, and this, his latest work, IS
tine browning glory OF daring mediocrity.
There some other serials worthy OF notice,
but they must wait week two, since "Ouidar
and one or two others demand attention now
Nobody can resist "Ouida's" appeals, and, even
the grave editor Of the Publishers Weekly remarks
of "Pascare,n her new novel Just published by the
Lppincotts, that the press twill 90 for it, and the
| people read it by thousands
1t is a matter OF grave import with US whether we
| shall "go for it, or not.
the people want TO read it that is their matter.
We tried TO read 1t but confess TO utter failure
for, to quote one OF "Ouidasn iavorite words, the
book grew more dully" the farther we got into it..
| No. we will not Ego for IT,
"Oxley," a novel just published by Scribner,
Armstrong Co., has one charming feature--the
dialogue is not constantly broken by pages of duh
description. Though, as now seems inevitable in
the American novel, a trip to Europe constitutes
part OF the story, the book is one OF fair interest
and VIII repay perusal; and it is refreshing
adays TO get a book in which the characters are
allowed to tell their own story.
The "Sprlng announcements so far do not en-
tain o single work OF peculiar promise.