The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-09
LITERARY REVIEW.
NEW FRENCH BOOKS.
4 Gustave Flaubert, n. Adrien Decour-
celle, Mime. Tn. BENTON, Nine.
George Sand, La Re
vue de France"


Fiaubert.-M Gustave FlauDert. the author OF
"Mme. Bovary' and "Salambo.- has Just bought
out new book, which Is exciting much talk in
Paris IL Is called la Tentation de st. Antoine
and processes TO describe the manifold temptations
to which the good st. Anthony was exposed In his
wilderness retreat 600 years ago. ST. Anthony
was the first founder OF monssteries, and is be-
lieved to have belonged to rich family OF Coma,
in Upper Egypt. He born in the year PSI, A.
d., and. like St. Augustine OF Hippo, and st.
Jerome Chrysostom, passed his youth rather
wildly; but towards the age OF forty he was con-
verified, sold all he had for the poor and retired
into the desert OF Thebair. where hundreds of
disciples followed MIN and became jealous apostles
OF the faith through his teaching. After founding
several monastic orders among his disciples st. An
thony begged TO be lett alone In his hermitage and
ne remained in virtual solitude till his death
(which occurred at the age or 1861, only coming
forth into the world twlce-the first time to
defend the Christians prosecuted by Maximinus.
and the second time to champion the true 1aith
against the neresy Of the Arians. Popular
legendary has 1t that during the first twenty
years OF his retirement St Anthony was sorely
tempted by the devil, who enticed him with every
form OF alurement that can seduce human flesh;
and 1t is these allurcments which M. Flaubert has
chosen for the text OF his book. In magnificent
panoramic way N. Flaubert has pictured the East
ern splendors OF the fourth century; but he has
described St Anthony as being SO much OF q
Frenchman that one Ia surprised throughout at
the SAINTS callousness. II st. Anthony had really
possessed the light epigrammatic mind and the
sensuous nature which the author imputes to him
he would certainly not have been commended to
all ages as an example OF fortitude under tempta-
ton.
THE CHANCES
that he would have yielded inglori0usy at the
very outset; but happily he was not . Frenchman.
1t is Impossible to go into details the tempta-
tons which NJ. Naubert describes with minute
realism for this author Is OF the chiefs that
French school who set at naught the bounds pre-
scrbed for English writer's. His style is admirably
coored, imaginative and bold, but 1t is instrans-
7atable, and Americans who wish to know what Ii
. Frenchman's idea OF the luxurious pagcants,
orgies and iollies OF the fourth century must read
n. Fiaubert's book in the original 1t deserves to
be read for apart from its crudities Is triumph
OF archaeological research, and there is notably
description Of Christian martyrs being torn by wild
beasts in the arena at Rome, which is picture in
the finest form OF word painting The book is not
long either, and can be read with amusement, II
not with profit, IN the course Of an evening.
UNE VIE BRIsEE, BY NINE. tn. BENTON.
This Is sentimental novel by q lady writing
under masculine pseudonym, which has already
acquired value in the French book market. The
story Is that OF girl who has been piousiy brought
up at the Convent Of st. Edne. When her educa-
ton is finished she goes home to live in shabby
lodgings with her father, ruined spendtnrirt and
debauchee, who marries her to a scampish money
broker, to whom ne owes large sums OF money
The tale OF the girls unhappy welded life is
given with true deiicacy and many touches Of
pathos. The broker Is dissoute person OF the
orthodox French type, who soon tires Of his
wife, abandons her and plunges into dissipa-
ton. Then monetary embarrassments super
vene; the young wife's father commits sui
eide; her pronigate husband dies OF small
p0x, and she, after spending o wretched time
OF it In poverty and desolatIOn, becomes
free. at last, to accept the addresses OF young
man, whom she has loved since the beginning OF
the book 1t looks, then, If all were about end
well but just she is about to be married to the
man OF her choice the unlucky young widow falls
I'll OF the smallpox In her turn and il so dlsAgured
by the malady that the last chapter closes on her
resolution to retire alone some distant village,
in order that her lover may nevermore hear OF
her. This conclusion s an anti-clmax, for pOetical
Justice would have demanded that the lover should
have married MS long-sunering betrothed In spite
OF her Disagreement. But in other respects the
book is well written, pure in its Tone ul OF incl
dent and in every way worth perusal IT, Bent
zon's novels favorites in French drawing
OF the few French writer's who do not make their
dctions hinge Objectionable episodes.
INA soEUR JEANNE BY GEORGE SAND.
George Sand has published new novel which
shows no falling on in her powers of style or
1ancy bur which proves that her taste for unpleas
anry strong-ninded heroInes has become invet-
crate. To speak plainly strong minded women are
TO the fairer and gentler members OF their sex -
shrubs to nowers-that is much more pictur-
esque at a distance than when seen quite close,
and by no means to be compared with flowers Tor
the adornment OF homo. The heroine of ma
Sour Jeanne" is young lady having all the quail
titles which in welded life rub on the sensitive or
gsnizaton OF man Like prickles. she Is well edu-
Gated and clever. endowed with firm will
and a thoughtful mind, and has no faults
weaknesses whatever. Nevertheless she contrives
TO fall IN love with one Lawrence Bielsa, who Is
generally believed to be her brother, but OF whom
sne Is well aware That she is not the sister. Law
renee, who does not al cover till close the end
OF the book that his siser Jane- no real sister.
but only founding whom his parents have
adopted, passes his life in wondering why his sister
fs 80 fond Of him and SO jealous OF the affection he
bestows on other young ladies' In the end every
thing Is explained and terminates by happy
marriage. One cannot speak zoo highly OF the
admirably fresh descriptions OF French home life
which George Sand scatters through all her noyels
and which IN this particular one abound: nor
again OF the authors strong touches in draw.
ing characters which live ana move and
are not mere puppets. The Lawrence
BIcisa OF ma sGur Jeanne Is a
most ably conceived character and the pass ages
IN which he endeavors analyze the nature " his
feelings towards Jeanne and hers for him are re-
markable pages OF psychological study. Tor ali
TINS It is growing evident tnat the lessons OF her
tutor In philosophy, Pierre Leroux, have told most
unfortunately on George Sand. Her hatred or
society as at present constituted. her disdain for
conventionalities OF all sorts, often lead her into
cynicism and maSe her books dangerous reading
for those whose minds not strong enough 10
reject false theories dressed in specious garb.
ana Seur Jeanner has proved great success: