New-York tribune., 1874-07-18
AMONG THE PHILA DELPHIA PUB
LISHERS.

AMOAG IHE PHILADELPHIA ICb-
LISTERS.
PORTER CoATEss INTERNATIONAL SERIES or
| NOVELS. b. IIPPINCOTT CO.'S FORTHCOMING
BOOKS - BIGELow's LIFE OF FRANKLIN AN
! INDUCEMENTS OF T. b. PETERSON & BROs.-AN
EXTRAORDINARY AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
! IRON THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.]
! PHILADELPHIA, July 14.-Except the few
weeks following the Winter holidays, midsummer is the
dullest Of the year with the publishers. The
kind II books which idcrs at the seashOre or IN the
cool darEened back pailors of city houses skim azy
in the intervals between doing and chat are
usually put upon shelves early i'll Jane, and the
heavier and valuable works wait their turn until
septcmber brings increased intellectual appetite and
improved digestion. Still. our leading Philadelphia
firms let their presses stop long. To the making
of books there literally end IN their establishments,
and a week seldom passes, even in the heated term,
without announcements OF works just issned
or in press. Messrs Porter d Coates have begun the
publication of what they term the international series
of Novels" which will embrace translaons OfapprOved
recent French and German fiction, reprints of such
English romances best worth reprinting, and
an occasional American novel; if any be found de
serving of such good company. The first two volumes
of the series Charlotte Ackermann," by Otto Mil
ler translated from the German by Mrs Chapman
Coleman and her daughters, the translators OF the
Louise Mulbach novels; and Valentine the Countess
by Carl Detef another German story the translator OF
which, with surprising mOdesty, gives the reader no
further TO his her name than the initials an 81
1t that OF these patient aud useful Ia
borers IN the fields OF literature displays such desire
to avoid publicity. Usually the translator insists on
having his put upon the title page In type SIZE
larger than that Of the author. These books are at
tractvey bound and in their pretty gray cloth covers
look cool fresh, ana scasOnaOle Ga the lids are stamped
the coats of the four countries whose authors
Igpsfrf,
y oddly enough. stands for France, which would
TO indicate faiin the part Of the publishers or
their artist in the shifting fortunes OF the fat
little meot and enthusiast vino plays the part
OF King in his chateau at Frohsdorf under
the protection OF the Austrian Emperor, and
issues prOcamatons 10 the French people signed Henri
v The forthcoming volumes of the international Series
are "Gentianoa' by Mrs. Randolph. and "Chaste as
Ice and SNOW" by Mrs. NJ. c. Despard. Mcssrs
Porter d Coates promise TO admit no book TO this series
that does not possess more than ordinary merit and
their reputation IL sufficient guarantee to the book
buying public that the promise Will be kept
In their circular for the current MONTH Messrs J, r.
Lppincott Il Co., announce nearly ready The Life
OF Benjamin Franklin written by himself and "uow
first edited from original manuscripts. and from his
printed cOrrespOn ence and other writings by thc Hon.
John BigelOw." Very few books so thorough
Iy reviewed in advance this has been. The value Of
the material collected by Mr.. Bigelow fully dis
that he had begun the work Of edit0f.p that the book
has already had an exceptionally favorable introduction
TO the reading pnbc. II will ill three octave
volumes "The Life and Works Of Mencus." by James
Legse the editor of the Life and Works OF COnfucius"
another book Of permanent value which this house
Will shortly issue. They also announce History Of
the German EmDerors and their CotemporaIies,"
translated and compiled by Elizabeth Peakes and new
edition OF Heinrich Stelen's German University
Life" On their list Of books in press il Nathan
sargents "Public Men and Event. from the Commence,
nent Of Mr. MonrOes Administration in isl7 to the close
OF Mr. FIllmOre's Administration in 1853" volume OF
entertaining "Reminiscences OF national politics and
politicians. Southalis Recent Origin OF Man."
Lord Lyttons Speeches and Addresses" and the Rev.
Wm. Il. Ayers Life Of Edwin Forrest" also appear
upon the list The latter volume has the approval OF
the executors OF the great actor. If mans fame may
be measured by the number OF biographies Of him.
Forrest bids fair rank the greatest tragedian OF
his time. Of time, for that matter lie has been
dead but n few months aud two " lives" Of him have
already been written Another noticeable book on
LppincOtts list Is "The Honeymoon a remembrance
OF bridal tour through Scotland, written and
translated from the original Spanish by the
Count de Medina Pomar The Span
Sh count with the is the
author Of number iOf speculative and reiiGo-p philo
sophical works. The impressions he received from q
country and people so widely different from his
Scotland and the Scotch cannot fail TO be entertain
ing reading unless indeed the peculiarly happy eircum
under which he made the journey unified him
for critical observation As TO the Counts translation
1t has obviously been thoroughly revised by English
hand. "What boy" liz the explanatory title OF "a
book by Julia A Kempshal, which Of the follow
ing problems concerning the troublesome being ques
ton: /. What shall do with himi H. What Will he
do with himsefi Ill. Who is blame for the conse-
quencesi
The firm OF T. B. Peterson Brothers probably issue
more miscellaneous books than any other publishing
house in the country. Novels naturally predominate In
their Summer catalogues They publish to-day another
Of Mrs J. Nowbys Stories Of which they getting
out series, the present volume being Sunshine and
Shadow" The suthoress is clever writer OF English
society novels, whose works rank above average
those OF their class In press the Petersons Mar
ried Beneath Him." by James Payne. "Loye at First
sight" by Capt. Curling. and a new Illustrated edition
OF AlnsS0rth's Tower OF London" They announce
new editions Of Martin the Founding" by Eugene su
EDd Of Victor HngOr Hans Dlslande" which appears
under tne sensational English ute Of " The Ircand or
~ D.Myg Y trs Agss 4Y0 Wv isg. yVgAs sYus.ssL