The Portland daily press., 1873-06-28
Recent Publications.


Londen's Heart. BY B.. L. Farieeu; au-
thor of sGriGo ssJeshua Marvep'
"Bladc o'Grass'' etc, etc.
This novel seems to us the best of Mr.. Far
jeon's works, as yet. The plot is well con-
structed. and, although not sensation al, has
unfailing interest and affords scope fol varied
and skillfnl delineation of character. The
scene, as the title denotes, is laid in the busy
streets of London. the personages are from
different classes of life, and are naturally and
powerfully drawn. The railway pointsman
and his little Polly, old Wheels, 81. Gribble,
Jr.", and many more, equally well sketched,
divide the interest of the teader with the
heroes and heroines par excellence, of the
novel Mr.. Farjeon's writings are uniformly
wholesome and elevated n tone; and are per-
vaded by spirit Of genial beDevolence and
good sense. Although he writes with no
avowed aim of reforming this or that wrong,
no set purpose the pursuit Of which Is so
of en- detrimental to the literary merit OF a
novel-his keen power of observation, his
knowledge of the world, and the entire in
fuence Of his writings are devoted to the in
terests Of humanity as well as of art The
volume is well printed and illustrated.
Published by Harper Brothers, New York.
For sale by Loring, Short and Harmon.
what to Wcarf BY Elixaseth Stuart
Phelps, au,hsr sf 4" Che Gates Ajar'
In six vigorous chapters, with suggestive
titles, Miss Phelps lays own dthe whole duty
Of woman, so far as regards dress. Always
thoroughly in earnest, welding a brilliant
and incisive pen, having at command fund
Of epigram, quotations and illustrations-the
author cannot fail of producing a great eff
feet, upon whatever subject she writes. And
very much that she says, seems to US fu.l of
practical good sense, and of much impor-
tance to every thinking woman. OF course,
ary reform, from the abolition of chignon's
to that of slavery, must be represented BY its
advocates in strong terms, perhaps to great
er degree than advisable in practice; and if
reformers insist upon severe simplicity Of
feminine attire, abjuring founces, renounc-
ing rufiies, and deiying Hsrper's Bazar gen.
orally, we trust that the fashions of the fu-
bag-but will combine elegance and good
taste with reasonable simplicity and economy.
We advise every woman to read Miss Phelps
book attentively and modify its views to suit
herself ard her circumstances.
Published by J. r. Osgood & Co., Boston.
For sale by Bailey and Noyes. t r
"werk'. ny Miss Il m. AIcefs, author Of
Little Women - sIHespital Sketches,''
etc., &c.
There is no need of recommendation for
new work of Miss Alcott's, no need to draw
public attention to the fact that a-other of
her wise. witty and womanly b"oks has beeb
issued from the press. But we too would ad
our word of rec gnition and praise to the
general chorus of readers and or tics. work
is, in some respects, Miss Alcott's most inn
portan. production as yet, 1t lacks, it seems
to us, somewhat of the delicious freshness
and. charm Of Little Women''-hut this
want is probably due to the evident purpose
with which ''Work" is written. It is, perhaps,
infe ior to the former in grace. spontanei-
ty, and unity ofdesisn although it possesses
in no small degree, the un'ailing brightness
and vigor Of the authors style. And the
points which Miss Alcott intended to make
she has made with c'earness and effect.
Little Women was the story of girl-lves
sheltered from all storms by mothers love,
even the irrepressible 10 never flying very far
from the nest ; whie Christie, the heroine of
'Work" is girl who, at twenty-one. weary
of the sense Of dependence, leaves the home