The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-02
LITERATURE IN ENGLAND.
The Byron Memorial Controversy iSrael'S
Tribute to the Poet-Peer.
What the Authors Are Now Doing-The
Gist Of the Latest Books.
LoSDoS, July II, 1878.

ApropoS OF literary matters, pay mention the
controversy TO which the ByronS5emorlal move
ment has gwen rise. a letter appeared in the
Times some ten days ago from lady VINO claimed
TO speak as the representative Of the poets
amily. strongly protesting against the remoyA
Df the slab placed by his friends and relatives
loon after ms death over his grave In Hucknen
rorkard churcnyard- 4" WheR Byron died." the
letter continued, che was not deemed worthy OF
lnterment In Westminster Abbey, and that
Iome national recognition Of his genius was forth
coming 1t was TOO atcn The eptstle, which bore
The Signature OF Isabella Noel Blunt" was,
venture TO think, IN the worst taste conceivable.
g had been originally addressed 10 Mr.. Dlsrael,
md the lady herself communicated IL TO the lead
ing journal. Since then It has transpired
that Lady Noel Blunt is Byron's granddaughter
The protest which she has chosen to enIer
against the memorial is considered by others who
directly descended from the poet as slnGularly
1ncalled Tor. and even imDertnent. Yesterday a
meeting was held at Willis Rooms, for the pur-
pose OF considering what should be done with the
Iurplus funds subscribed arer the decoration OF
sbe tomb OF the author OF ''Chide Harold"
MR.. DIsRAELI DELIVERED A SPEECH,
which was In his very best style, and the meeting
was complete success. Among Others who
were there was Lord Lovelace, ByrOn's son-in-
law and His Lordship, speaking on behalf OF the
descendants OF the poet, most empDatically mega
lived the views put forth IN Lady Noel Blunt's IL
lined letter. There is a special appropriateness
the selection OF Mr. Disrae to the post OF prest-
lent OF the lund. Certainly no English writer has
peen more powerfully Influenced by the genus OF
Byron, while IN 'Veneuan-perhaps the poorest
n his novels-the attempt is made to
SHADOW forth" Byron himself under the
name or Cadurcis IL is just worth men
tionIng that this is not the first the
pnly instance which an author OF English fiction
has endeavored TO fulfil a ike design. While
Byron was yet living Lady Caroline Lamb pub
ished a novel, ''Glenarvon,u the nero OF which,
and the namesake OF her work, was none other
than the ilustrious Englishman with whose fame
nj Europe then ringing.
MR.. TENNYsoN's DRAMA
To come from the poet Of the past 10 the poetry
the present. &r. Tennyson's drama has fallen
Incredibly nat. At this | am surprised not be-
cause consider the work a really great poem
nut because It's intensely Protestant tone is
thoroughly calculated TO suit the intensely Prot
isfant frame OF mind in which the English public
lust now Its subject you aware, Is
Mary Tudor, and the failure OF her attempt TO re-
store the ascendancy Of the Roman Church in the
kingdom OF which she was Queen. The laureate
has taken his usuai pains VITA his work, and some
Of the historical portraits which 1t contains are
admirable Tor fidelity and finish. But
the subject is not one suited Tor
dramatic or poetic treatment. There is no
Tariety: there is a sort OF plot, but there is no
counter plot; there is gloom, but there Is no
hight; there is, fact, nothing relieve the mo-
notony OF tRat hopeless despair which was the
atmosphere OF Mary Iudor's lie. and which en-
Veloped her death. 1t may that with Mr. Henry
Irving as Philip OF Spain, more likely hear, as
Gardner, the drama VIII succeed upon the stage,
and ii that is the case, then the copies which are
div Ia IN will ha a,ld oH Pm
Iail to see where the element OF dramatic success
the play lies, and that is certainly the opinion
Of most competent critics here, though Mr.. Tenny-
son Is sald 10 be OF opinion that it, Protestant
moral viii take tue English public by storm.
Butt Mr.. Tennyson mas filled, we have just had
Issued volume Of poetry which bids fair to be
success. It IS collection OF TRANSACTIONS from
Icelandic, by Eirikr Magnusson and william
Morris, called
THREE NORTHERN LOVE STORIES"
and is an admirable specimen OF conscientiousiy
executed work. 1t Is really refreshing alter the
tropical heats OF the erotc poetry, so fashionable
Win our modern ragan bards, TO lee the bracIng
Iir Of the northern cimes 20 which Mr. Morris and
his colleague introduce us. There is not a stanza-
| had almost said not line-whtca is not fresh and
spirited and redolent OF that adventurous life
which the old nero OF their poems led.
NEW NOVELS
interest or Of value. s'Tne Boudoir Cabalr Is per-
haps, the most taking fiction we have lately had.
II is a romance Of politics and society In whose
pages Mr. Disrlell and Mr.. Gladstone figaro as Mr..
Paramount ana Mr.. Paradise. The novel derives
its name from the INSCRIPTIONS organization,
formed by number OF great ladles-whO are IN.
dignant that the hero or the story, LORD Mayrose
Gid MOI marry OF the mselves instead OF pretty
parUenu, the DAUGHTER and sole nelress Of city
knight-fOr the purpose OF running him and
his wife. The political portion OF the novel may
be briefly indicated MIR. Paradyse (Gladstone)
brings IN scheme for home rule applied to
Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Nj. Paramount
(DisraelD moves as counter resolution to this
that 80 momentous change cannot be sanctioned
by Parliament before every man and woman In
the Empire has the opportunity or pronouncing
mis- or her opinion, so he obtains leave intro
duce measure Tor absolute Universal manhood
ana womanhood suffrage. The idea is better con-
ceived than executed f3r the author displays a
certain unfamlnarlty with the nature OF English
politics. stn the novel is bright aud lively
enough. AS another Illustration Of
REALISM Is FICTION
may draw attention 10 a novel called the ''Wneel
OF Fortune" BY Mr.. f. a. Ryder. ,t introduces
the reader TO mucn the same lie as that depicted
In
MR.. ANTHONY TRoLLoPE's NEW NOVEL,
'The Way We Live NOW" though the characters
as might be expected, are much less sknfully
planned. still there IS evident sign that they
drawn rom life, and that Is a step IN the right
direction. Notwithstanding that IN Mr. Trollope's
'The Way We Live Now" there is a good deal that
Is vigorous and pointed, the novel; as a whole, is
not satisfactory. The style Is dtruse; the drdadts
persona, with the exception OF Lady Cadbury ana
the Longstanes are vaguely delineated and van
Ism from our memory as soon as they have been
admitted 70 II. IL Is not often mat we have
DULL IRISH NOVEL
indicted rs. Levers romances we're so unit
formly brilliant that he seems almost 10 nave
warned OF all latter day noyelists from the soil OF
the Emerald Isle. Bat IN "Castic Dayn we have
very duh novel indeed. The pictures OF the
irish peasantry arc stacy and conventional; the
irish squires nave done duty again and again as