The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-08-01
OUR BOOK TABLE.

45E fI N-- III btA
QUEEN MARY. A Drama By Alfred Tenny-
son. Boston: James r. Osgood Co.
New Orleans: r. g. Eyrich. "a
| Rarely have the leading critics and re-
| viewers, both Of England and America, been
SO totally at variance in their judgments upon
| the merits of a new work of undoubted pres
tensions, as they are in regard to Tennyson's
drama. The Spectator pronounces it full OF
| dramatic force and fire, strong from
end to end, decidedly finer work of
dramatic art than Shakespeare's "Henry
Will"
The Athenopuna on the other hand, declares
| it to be purely narrative and lyrical-lacking
| in all essentially dramatic quality, failing to
stir or to rouse. The academy also deplores
its dramatic deficiencies, describing it as a
| scene of monotonous and continuous distress
the distress of jealousy, of lovelessness,
broken only for moment by the hope of
child -bearing-suffering which finds no vent
| in action, pain which is unreieved by Incl
dent.
Another prominent English journal, how
ever, describes it as giving evidence of more
true fire than anything which has appeared
since Shakespeare's time The London Times
uses this very emphatic language:
sunless we are deceived, it will be generally
allowed that Queen Mary is not only a fine
Of the several powers which 60 to make it so
has already been proved by the author, the
mastery harmony in which they work together
here entities Queen Mary to be considered
| something more than merely a success in new
kind. The dramatic glow and impetus which
are proper TO poem Of action, may be initiated,
but cannot be replaced by epic splendor or lyri-
cal passion. In our own days We have seen
these, or feebler substitutes, essayng to do duty
for it ; but it is long since the genuine insEira-
ton, at least Of tragedy, has been among us.
The ingenuity Of the apologies which have
| been suggested for the fact is characteristic OF
the age which required them, but the fact is gen.
orally allowed. If we welcome Mr.. Tennyson's
drama for one reason moro than another, it is
for this-because here we seem to recognize the
pre- ence Of that rare and precious virtue which
has so long seemed dead even in those works of
English poetry which are most distinctly products
Of genius-dramatc fire; and if we had to say when
last this great quality found comparably vivid
embodiment in the treatment OF IN English
historical subject, we should not know where to
stay our search until it had carried us back to
the year when the series Of Shakespeare English
histories was completed and crowned with
"Henry ""
As the critics disagree, 80 will the readers,
we, therefore, leave the question open for
each one to decide for him self, advising all to
read it carefully, for whether it be true
drama or not, it is undoubtedly great his
torical poem. ..@
The action takes place principally in London.
now in the royal pa ace, again in the streets, or
at Whitehall, or in st. Mary's Church but at the
beginning Of the second act it is la at Abingdon
Castle in Kent. The personages introduced in
clude some OF the most conspi uous aud intrinsi-
caily dramatic figures of the sixteenth century.
The Mary of the poem is the dark and bloody
daughter Of Henry and Katharine Of Aragon,
and the whole period of her reign is used by the
poet in unfolding his story. Philip Of Spain,
Elizabeth, Cardinal Pole, Sir Thomas Wyatt,
Cranmer Gardiner, Bonner and Courtenay,
Earl Of Devon, are among the prominent actors,
and the incidents Of the Spanish marriage, the
insurrection OF Wyatt, the outbreak of the per-
secution, are some of the incidents which illus
trate the gradual development of Mary's charac
ter and the tragedy of her last hours. l
A DOUBLE WEDDING or, How She was Won.
BY Mrs. G. A. Warfeld, author of The
Household of Bouverie." Philadelphia ::
T. B. Peterson & Brothers. New Orleans ::
r. G. Eyrich.
"The Household OF Bouverie" will be re-
membered by many readers as one of the
most weirdly fascinating novels ever written.
Mrs.. Warfeld displays holiness of concep-
ton and vigor of expression rarely attained
by female novel writer GA Double We'd
ding" though altogether different from her
first novels, and entirely devoid of that ele-
ment of mysticism which constituted so pro-
mnent feature in ''The Household of Bou-
verie," will be read with pleasure and interest
by many to whom the latter was repulsive and
terrible.
NooKs AND CORNERS OF THE New EsGLAND
COAST. By Samuel Adams Drake. With
numerous illustrations. New York: Harper
& Bros. New Orleans: r. G. Eyrich.
This very elegant volume which is issued
in Harper's best style and profusely illus
= atrib rf;a f, ha
tory and geography of New England
It is founded on personal exploration, and
exhibits rich fund oflegend, anecdote and
"reminiscences, as well rs historical notes aud
descriptive sketches. The picture of Yankee
society and character are rich specimens OF
that style Of composition.
PLAYING THE MISCHIEF. A novel. By J.
W. DeForest. New York: Harper & Bros.
New Orleans: R. G.. Eyrich.
Mr.. DeForest is noted for keen wit, fine
humor and concise style. The present story
is especially distinguished by these charac-
teristics, for it is a sharp political satire en-
bodying much keen sarcasm at the expense of
present race of statesme AS story 1t is
also exceedingly interesting in itself.
WARD OR WIFE? A romance. New York !:
Harper q Bros. New Orleans: r. g.
Eyrich. ace - 81 Jtst#r
A very pretty little love story. Published
annony mously, it's admission to place in.
in Harper's library of select novels is suffi-
cient guarantee OF more than ordinary merit.
NINE DAYS WONDER. A Novelette,. BY
Hamilton Aide. Boston: James R. Osgood
& Co. New Orleans: r G. Eyrich.
A short well-written story of English home
life, by the author of Rita. The Marstons.
Penruddocke etc. The plot is novel, and
affords suffi cient interest and dramatic Incl
dent, to admit of its having been successfully
dramatized for the Royal Court Theater. 500
LYRICAL POEMS, (14sh voldme Of Little Gas
sics Edited by Rossiter Johnson. Bos-
ton: J. r. Osgood & Co. New Orleans: r.
G. Eyrich. "a' y o. 80
It would be difficult to tell which is the
most charming OF these delightful little
volumes, such is the care and good Judgment
exhibited by Mr.. Johnson in his selections
Thi. voIuma is q oam composed of many