The New York herald., 1876-09-04
MIDSUMMER NOVELS.

WHAT THE WARM WEATHER HAS BROUGHT
FoRrH-'DANIEL DERoNpA," ''As LONG AS
SHE LIVED" ''LASD OF THE sKY"--A NEW
ART JOURNAL
First and foremost OF the midsummer novels stands
'Daniel Deronda" lHarper * Brothers. which Is the
greatest novel that has been written since middle
march," When George Eliot writes the whole world
reads Although but the first volume OF Daniel De-
ronds has been published it has already become the
subject OF serious literary debate. The numbers are
reviewed as fast as they appear and as much space
given to tho few pages in their magazine form as most
three-voumed works receive. George Eliot like
George Sand, belongs to or country. she Is
not to be criticised woman Briton, but simply
n writer belonging TO the century. In "Danei De-
FONDA" she has portrayed set OF Characters 1t
was very bold move to take selfish. vain girl like
Gwendolin Harleth and make a heroine OF her But
she has developed the character truthluy and nat
uray that the transition was inevitable. George
Eliot does rot lay great stress on dra-
matte situations You expect a tragic scene
at Gwcndon's wedding, instead of which the
event is mentioned Casually rs having taken
place some weeks back Cdous as he is, Grand
court is wonderful character. For cool, caculat
Ing 2entlemanly rascal he has no equal in fiction The
scene between him and Mrs Glasher is a!mos, blood
curclng in its quiet tragedy There lie sat- and
undisturbed, with the woman he had betrayed in
suppressed agony before him and the children he had
brought into the world playing around her knee. In
stead OF being touched by picture that would have
melted vulgar villain to tears he is simply bored and
when she reproaches him, by the tone OF her
voice than by her words he tells her in his cain way
that she is ''dsvilish unfair" 1t is very easy say
that Gwendolin deserved all she got for marrying
Grandcourt- Perhaps she did but the marriage
part and parcel of her early character She could
have done It after knowing Deronda Grandcourt she
mover loved; Deronda she loved without knowing 1t
the evening no watched her while she gambled at
Leubronn An honest, thinking, decided man like
Deronda, who, although he lived in the world not
OF 1t, was just tue one to oaptvatc Gwendolln HIS
very prcachiness, that most Of would tire Of
just what Gwendoin needed and craved Tor. Mirale
rather sentimental character too intense for every
day life; but all concerning her. the Cohens and Nor
deca, Is intensely interesting. George Eliot has evil
IDENTITY written "Danie Deronda" with purpose and
she has worked her point cleverly that do not
discern the drii. until carried along by Then
We are struck by the truth Of what she says
are interested and attracted, II not convinced Surely,
the Jews have powerful champion in George Eliot
"As LONG LIVED"
'As Long as She Lived" (Harper Il Brothers) is the
story Of young American grl, Mabel Wesibrook, who
has mission to accomplish Her grandfather believes
that his son defrauded family in England out of a
large sum Of money, aud promise from Mabel
on his deathbed that she Will right the wrong. Sho
goes to England for that purpose and finds the odes.
surviving member of the family in an amshouse. She
urns ovor the money TO HIM and he dies Of joy; SO
The younger branch comes IN for share. Ono of
them-Brian haliday-reiuscs to take the money, as
he has discovered that the fraud his side of the
house. He takes Mabel instead. There is great deal
Of entanglcnent between those who the money
md those who don't Mr.. Robinson, however, clears
,p tho difficulty and all ends happily. The characters
ire good but the sentiment; ID not quite as delicate
u the authors earlier. books.
ISRAEL MORT, ovERMAN."
Mr. John Saunders, the author OF the above novel;
B making enviablo reputation for himself in the
literary world "Abel brakes Wife'-hs first work of
mporiaace-had quito a run as play in London, and
'here is more than ordinary dramatic ability Tsrael
Mort' Harper Broihers.) The hero Of this story,
Israel Mort is overman in q Welsh niue He has
worked in the mine all his life, and his ambition
IN overman. He large number OF shares in tho
mine. but'the others are owned by his enemy,
10 that 1t is like kicking with bare feet against
wall to any OF his cherished plans He gets
INTO all sorts OF difficulties He cold, hard
and not thoroughly understood, but he melows bel ore
hc story closes The scenes with his son David are
:oodwhere the child breads going into the mine
lnd the father insists There grea. deal OF plot In
the work. but its strength hes in It's descriptions OF
character and scenery Mr. Saunders has evidently
taken grea. pains with his work. bu, he rather over
ioes the business in the matter OF colliery horrors
"A STORY OF THREE SISTERS"
One OF the most delightful books of that delightful
"Lssure Hour'' series Henry Holt n Coz A Story
sf Three Sisters" by Cecil Maxwell II jus, plain
everyday story of English country lie with but one
uc nj end no and he
life OF the iavore heroine a, the same time. 1t Is
quito natural, but likes book well as play 10
sni happily. The OF this little story shifts
from tho quiet country village where it is laid You
can count the principal characters on your fingers
The people described are not Odd grotesque
in any way, yet they cleverly drawn types
Of their kind. Perhaps the favoritc hero among the
voung lady readers OF tho book will be George Synton,
the young lording VINO loved the squire daus shter.
but not dearly that he could no: give her up his
friend, whom be considered had The prior caiu. How
much suffering might have been saved the heroes and
heroines OF this story OF the other people had
snly attended to their own business? Grandmother
Burnet and Aunt Carry born marpots. The
sig- OF friendly relations between young man and
young woman they rush in between with warnings or,
what is worse, insinuatops about happy wedding days.
and all is over. 1t would seem in reading novel like
his that 1t would be no hard matter to find plenty OF
material for just sucn story Aud 1t would no1 but 1t
not the material that makes the charm OF this story,
II is the way which IT is woven together One
not but wonder what becomes of writer after putting
forth such clever interesting story as this Hc very
Fcdom fulhs the expectations aroused by his nrst eli
fort If he attempts second. but halt the time he is
content to let well enough alone, which perhaps is
After ALL the better plan. If however, Cecil Maxwell
has any stories like this of the three sisters by
AL means le, us have them.
''nER DEAREST FoEr
Mrs Alexander is a in point os an author whose
Arst volume better than those which follow She
has never equalled .'Thc Wooing o." sHcr Dearest
Foe'' (henry Holt & Coz has more plot than tho
earlier novel, and attempts more tho way OF dra-
matte situations but has not hall the power Not but
that "Hcr Dearest Foc'' is novel OF more than