The New York herald., 1875-10-16
LITERATURE.
VICTORIAN POETS.

THE AUTHOR OF PAN IN WALL STREET IN A
NEW RoLE-A VOLUME OF PoETIcAL CRITICISM
BY POET.
OF books bearing the dato 1876 on their title page
there will be a great number and a great variety
Bryant Longfellow, Whittier Lowell and Emerson If
report betrue, will dignity the literature OF that period
with the bright lustre Of their For all this
in saying that there will be important
contribution Centennial literature than Mr. E. G.
Stedmsn's volume Of 'Victorian Poets" just from the
press OF James R osgood Co Mr. stedmans very
able and scholarly book the outgrowth of few criti
cal essays that published in the Atlantic Monthly
and Scribney's Magazine where they attracted much
and such favorable notice that he led
the until it grew into its present dgnihed pro-
portions The work in this volume is enormous.
The book contains probably the correct list OF
dates connected with the subject published anywhere
The author has not been satisfied with the dates In
books but has gone TO headquarters for the required
information and his correspondence has been most
extensive and valuable Side containing the pith
Of the given the page and elaborate
lytcal index show that pains have been spared 10
make the volume complete in all its parts The book
is not only of interest 10 students OF poetry, but
valuable to any who TO have a concise and
carefully considered history Of the poets poetry OF
the past forty years 1t could be text book in
data and opens up mine or thought that would be
well to lay before the young and Of the
country while they at the impressionable aga
One great charm Of Mr. Stedman's book is its healthy
and hopeful tone He has great faith in the Victorian
period The dyllc method predominates at this time
and has maintained atmosphere favorable 70 the
viva OF high passion and dramatic power A new
dramatic and lyric school has also risen and brought
IT'S method into vogue learned and scholarly period
Mr. stedman calls this 1T is fair assume" " quote
'that although poetcal may not be best for the
contemporary world u is well for poet to be born
such an era and III for literature" Mr. stedman
thinks that the technique Of poetry has been
well understood since the time OF Keats and the rise
OF the Tennysonian school Hedoes endeavor
ticipate the future Of English song but merely give
shistorcal review OF the Of British poetry
ing the present reign To Us II q very fitting
thing that poet should undertake this delicate task
and particularly poet who writes such vigorous prose
as Mr. Stedman The book is appropriately dedicated
to George Ripley, IL. D.. the literary critic of the
Trib1re ''whose Judgment learning and professional
devotion have contributed to the Advancement OF crit
cism and furnished enviable example OF let
ters."
The most original study in this volume is found in
sTennyson and Theocrtus but the studies OF Landor
and Robert Browning also remarkable and Interest
volume referring 70 Tennyson's lack or genuine
dramatic power was written before the Lau-
reate's drama OF queen Nary surprised the
world Out great many critics will take Mr.
stedman's pre-expressed opinion very good
prophecy. Tennyson's drama made its unexpected
appearance while MI stcdman preparing his work
for the press and evidently did materially change
his view OF Tennyson's capacity for this kind OF
position The direct mention q Queen Mary" is made
in the closing paragraph Of the victorian Poets and
Is as folows;-"Even Tonnyson, in tho mellow ripe
Of his fame, perceives that the mission OF the
dylst is ended, and extends 70 the latest movement
his adherence and practical aid Going outside his
special genius and lifelong won't he now-through
sheer intellectual force and skin made perfect by my
years o. practce-has composed with deliberate fore
thought and consummate art drama that does not
belle the name without much imaginative splendor
II Is at least objective aud adapted fitness ofthnrs
and thus essentially different from Brownings essays
toward a revival Of the dramatic mould on the other
hand 1t also differs from the work Of the Elzabethan
dramatsts that il the result of forced effort while
the models after whrh i Is shaped in their day
an ntutive form Or express!onthc outgrowth
OF thoroughly dramatic age The very enort how
1 ever is significant 81 the present need. Wisdom
beauty and passion blended trDty-constitute the
poetic strength OF every imaginative and memo
rabIy that or Shakespeares time SO long the true
critics faith hope and charity abide land the greatest
OF these is charity be will justify every wetmed
mastery effort TO recall the rune spirit Of Brtain's
nobIest and most enduring song"
Landor although Of the time Of George III. and
temporary with Byron, Wordsworth, Scott and Cole
ridge-"ho stood among these, but not Of them'-s IN
STYLE thought and versatility says Mr. stcdman, Vic
toran rather than Georgian. "Landor is first Of all
poet for poets OF clear vision and assured utcrancc
throughout the Victorian year" His works
are deficient IN that broad human sympathy through
which Shakespeare has found his way TO the highest
and lowest understandings-just as the cloud
seems TO one a temple, 70 another con-
tinent, 70 child fairy palace, but Is
dazzling and glorious 10 ALL Landor belonged
IN spite o. himself 70 the Parnassian aristocracy-was
a. has been said, poet tor poets, and one who per-
sonaly Impressed the finest organizations Critics
not wanting who maintain Landors 'Pericles and
Agpasa TO be the purest creation Of sustained art In
English prose- 81 would the fabric Of PERSONS
temper by bis appreciation Of such book f" says Mr..
stedman. or bis fame the author says:--"If Landor
himself had any feeling upon the subject it that
time would yield him justice. No could do better
without applause. worked less for IT, counted less upon