The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-07
THE BOOK WORLD.
What the Boston Publish
ers are Doing.
CHATS ABOUT BOOKS.
1.-The Village Surgeon" For Better or Worse"
1.-The Mystery" "Bric-a- Brac"

BOSTON, Mass, March a, 1873.
The BOOK trade OF this city is pretty much at
standstill, ana were mine enemy TO write a book,
just now, he would have a tOerably hard time IN
getting the public to buy 1t. Not that the people
OF the modern Athens have suddenly stoI ped i'm
proving their minds, or have adopted the theVry
advanced by Festus In the case Of Paul-that much
reading might make them mao and are acting IN
sef-defence-but that, like the people OF most
places else in these times. they have come 10 the
conclusion tnat q dollar Is dollar, and that II s
more available IN mat shape for general temporal
needs than work theology however OrthO-
dOx. or l6mo novel. There is, besides, natural
Revision In the business, coming as a matter OF
course. and in no sense operating as wet blanket
upon, the minds or plans OF the various pub
fishers. The fall trade was excellent, much better
than was expected at its opening. and holiday
purchasers thnned out the shelves OF the dealers
IN manner which must have been eminently
satisfactory after the dull summer OF last year.
The fall lists OF our prominent publishers con-
tanned some OF the best works issued in this city
for years. and the demand for certain OF them has
constantly been on the increase. There were, OF
course, some miscarriages. A stroll among the
second hand book stalls on Washington street aud
COrnhill gives a pretty accurate idea oil those
volumes which died in press. Publishers are liable
to errors OF Judgment ike everybody else, and
very often book in print is hardly the book it
seemed IN manuscript.
In some quarters there is gentle STIR
ring OF the waters, and occasional announce
ments show that the temporary indlspOsliion Of
the pubic 10 invest in literature has affected the
more prominent firms in the trade only IN the fire.
quency and character OF their publications. In
brisk season publishers can unload great deal OF
second quality stuff upon the market; but no
shrewd publisher would dare to throw poor book
upon the trade IN dull season. 1t would not
only be ruinous to his pocket but TO his reputa-
ton.
OUR PUBLISHERS IN GENERAL.
Most OF the announcements Just made or about
to be made are confined to half dozen out OF our
score or more publishing firms, and are OF books
about the success OF winch there hangs no posi-
bility OF risk Roberts Brothers are doing very
little, and will PROBABLY lie cOntentedly discon.
tentedly upon their until change OF the tide.
Estes h Lauriat issue an occasional volume. Al
though young firm the members are Old in ex-
perience, and never put their imprint upon any
thing that savors OF doubt. w. F. GIL h Co. have
closed up their last all's announcements and are
now waiting for better times. d. L0thrOp & Co.,
one Of our most energetic publishing firms, seem
TO be little affected by The prevailing stagnatlon,
and put forth very liberal list OF proposed pub
licanons. so with Henry Hoyt. the Congrega-
tODal Publishing Society and other publishers Of
religious literature.
IN DETAIL.
Hurd h HOughtOn whatever the times may be,
keep the presses at Riverside toeraply busy
though their present range of publications is far
from being vide one. There is a constant call
for their standard editions OF Dickens and Cooper;
their law work is rapidly growing, and what new
books they publish may be safely reckoned as
among the necessarIes OF mental lie. Of late the
firm has been decotlng its best energies to push
ing the Atlantic, which was never before In SO
prosperous condition. Their list OF announce
ments for the spring trade Is not yet ready. 1t
Will be small, for the firm believe in making the
most OF what they have, instead OF trusting to un-
certain ventures at least IN times like these.
The March list OF Lee Shepard Includes re-
marKabe work by N. L. Thieohn upon "Span and
the Spanards; ;" remarkable, because in these days
OF universal authorship 1t Is unusual to find book
written by one who has thorough acquaintance
with hts subject. MIR. Thiebn was formerly
writer on the Pau Mall Gazette, and special cor
respondent went through the FrancO-Prussian
war. Upon the breaking out OF the spanish
troubles he went to Madrid ana after residence
Of several months, during which time his eyes and
pen we're constantly employed. ne penetrated
through the lines to the Carst camp. Here he
was thrown into daily companlonship with
the chiefs OF the insurreclOn and became
familiar with their plans. For eighteen months
Of this time he acted as special correspondent OF
the HERALD giving in hts letters the clearest and
most reliable account OF the late troubles in Spain
that has been yet published. 1t Is the cream OF
this correspondence that goes b make up the
present volume. American novel readers have
become within the past two or three years toler-
ably well acquainted with Mrs. Katherine Sedg.
WICK Washburn, whose ''Italian GRIP and .lna''
were 30 well received at the time OF publication.
The former has Just passed to second edition.
and the publishers now announce new novel by
the same nand-"Perfect Love Casteth Out Fear.n
Petroleum V. Nasby's book, "The Morals OF
Abou Ben Adbem," announced last december and
postponed on account OF the authors desire to add
to it, Will be issued this month, and we are also
promised "The Lover, and Other Miscellanies. +"
by Richard Steele, edited by John F. Babson four
foliO), our Boston Ella This volume was also an
nouncej couple OF months ago, but Its pubilca.
ton was delayed through the illness OF Mr.. Bah
son, VINO Is now sufficiently recovered to complete
the work. Not to be altogether overlooked is
"Warrlngton's Manual" compiled by William
;. Robinson, former Clerk Of the Massac husetts
House OF Representatives, which is designed to
supersede the volume by the lamented Cushing,
so long the terror OF rural members OF State
legislatures and country lyceums. Higgnson's
Young FORKS History OF the United States
issued a month since, has proved An immense
success. Seven large editions have already been
issued, and the publishers have yet been
unable to ill their orders. The book is a
charming story, into which dates and statistics
are SO skilrully woven as to be almost overshad.
owed Dy the interest in the narrative, and yet they
are there as plain and palpable TO the searcher as
those III the dryest text book ever RECOMMEND
ty school committee. The PECULIARLY Of the
volume lies IN the fact that the author lays more
stress upon incidents OF peace than OF war IN
tracing the growth and progress OF the nation.
One OF the "happy thoughts" OF j. II. Osgood &
60. at the opening Of last season was ''The Little
Classics,n series wnicn has become immensely
popular with the trade and the public. The
cream OF English and American literature has
been SKINNED to Oil these dainty little volumes,
the latest OF which IL now IN press. IL Is
entitled ..Romance.m and Will contain "The Story