New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-08
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
THREE NOVELS.

the issue Of three novels, so distinctly lhuNl uu" IA
conception and style these. They are so far apart
as to admit Of contrast or comparison, yet each
is nearly equally removed from the mass of conyen-
tional. not TO saw mechanical work. with which the
markets Of England and America are stocked. Each
has its definite purpose presented except, perhaps
in the case Of the ast-named Of the three without
regard 10 any school or fashion in literature; and
our chief duty viii be to estimate the character ana
importance Of that purpose and the adequacy OF lts
execution.
Mr. Henry James, ir., inherits from his father
dicion so rich and pure, fluent and coplous' so
fnely-ShadeA yet capable Of such varied service,
that il is in itself form of genius. Few men have
over been so brilliantly equipped for literary per-
Torrance. Carcfullv-traned taste, large acquire
ment Of knowledge experience Of lands and races,
and association with the best minds, have combined
TO supply him with all the purely intellectual
requisites which author could desire. HIS use OF
these rare advantages and consequently the CUES
ton Of his highest success depends therefore upon
that subtle element of temperament which can
neither be Inherited nor acqurcd,-that passion
sprnging equally from the intellect and the moral
nature which makes creation necessity. 1t is this
that tnges the cooress ichOr of the brain with the
strong uddy hues Of the heart, and forces the
very pulses Of an authors life, whether he viii or
not. to beat upon his pages.
We cannot vet distinctly feel the presence of such
an informing power in Mr. James's stories and
novels He sits beside his characters observingan and
deneating their qualities and actions with marvel
Gus skin, yet apparently untouched by any SYM
pathv with them HIS effectiveness is that OF the
srrapt rather than that of the novelist dramatic
poet. His conceptions are not forged in the heat OF
his mind but hammered from cold steel the temper
of which has been tested in advance. This gives
stamp Of security to his work, which, mp to a GER
tain point j. both an advantage and charm. lie
approaches fine psychological problems with o con-
fdence which the reader iuvountarily shares and |
rarely falls short Of the limits within which he has
decided to solve them Yet most of his figures have
something Of the character of bas-Tecis: they can
only BE seen from one side and are best seen in one
light In some Of his former stories their selected
peculiarites are presented with such care and Wv
illness that nearly lose al other aspects of their
indiyidualitics, even their sex.
In "Thc American" Mr. James has to some ex-
tent overcome this tendency Every character 10
cut Ike an injag'io the outlines are so sharp and
clear; and they are never allowed to blur. The
picture Of the BclegGrdc family, with its meame's
self-hrcss, aud the impeguabe pride of the rc''c
noJlessc is equal to anything Of the kind in Bazac
In fact heartily as we detcst its members, and much
a. we admire the pluck and good-nature Of Mr.
Newman tho American manufacturer who Is
determined to buy the finest piece of Seyres porcc-
lam for wife. we find some OF our respect gwen
bac, to The former. at the close OF the tory-ltIt
can be called n close where the action simply stops
leaving matters very much they were before. As
in Rod,iicl Hudson Mr.. James gives MS the |
various stages Of problem, and oEits The solution
Or if the fact that Newman has utterly failed, in
spite Of the pluck and shrowd natural diplomacy hc
has exhibited throughout the story, must be ac- |
ceped rs % solution il is one which takes him down
from his heroic pedestal and casts "A suspicion Of
stupidity over his goodness of heart Our Interest ~
"Thc American would be greater if we could have
the least faith i'm Newmau's wOfcsscd love- on
Madame de CintrFs amiable inclination. But We
contemplate them as coldly we feel the author
must have done and after a few chapters, only
value them subjects for his rapid, keen, sure dis
sectiag hand. Valcntin de Bcllcgardc and Mdlle
No<nie arc the two for whom most care because
they have n slight clothing of heShaEd-bl0od The
parts they play ofttlc consequence, seeing that
81 t.c comes Of them, but they weli-draWn
as need be.
The great charm OF the story lies in the dialogue
and by-pay of the principal persons. We overlook !
the cca-iona apses Of dramatic consistency, while
listening % conversation so brilliant. so subtle and
so abundant in hnely-coutrasted touches of chaTdc
tcr. Herein Nr. James is easily master In the
descriptive passages also NE is at fault he
knows so wei what to paint, that he rarely misses
c-;nEo Hence we regret all the more kecnly The
absence of that profound and universal human sym
patty winch is needed to temper the severity Of his
tt....tLr apprehension OF the natures Of men and
,oiucu. We cannot escape the impression or an IN
difference never expressed, perhaps because II is
,.,,ital and thus not distinctly conscious to the
;.r.l's mind and it is indifference which does
lo. predict a later cynicisn since the very quality
az the latter implies at least hostile inter
est Ia a word. Mr. James writes like man who has |
never known an enthuSiasn,-llkc one who finding |
that In certain rare and refined intellectual qualities
he is the superior Of most Of those whom lac meets
is easily led to overlook the intrinsic value Of other
forces IN human nature With his remarkable ahil- |
ity it Is not likely that he should have deliberately
assumed the restrictions We have indicated they |
are probably natural and inevitable.
81 Modern McpdisOphclcs" is The last number |
Of the "No Name Series, winch title it bears for |
FORMS sake or by the common courtesy OF p"bishcr /
and reader. II Mrs. Haio; Prescott SpCdord wished
to try harmless experiment. She LA. failed FOR no |
one familiar with her former stories can read ten |
pages Of a Modern MephIstophcles" without |
recognizing her hand She has perhaps. subdued /
a few of her cherished habits she is less lavish with
Gold and gems and colors bat she cannot escape the
pervad:na atmosphere of luxury wherein her Muse |
breathe, most freely. The names OF Helwyze Uiell
wisef. Cauars. aud Gladys testify of her: the !
four moral and intellectual forces clothed with eX
ternaliy appropriate garments Of flesh, which con !
stitutc tine only pcrsouages of the story, act and
speak ia Obedience Acr literary win and law; and
We cannot escape the necessity q estimating the /.
work from lac point Of view of her evident design
Ii is decidedly the best novel of th" series, thus far
and il IS one If Mrs Spaiord'5 best performances /
She goes 10 tie opposite extreme of tuo realism /
which is now go popular land apparently growing |
more sol I'm fiction: her characters are independent