The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-08-18
Recent Publications.

Samuel Brohl and Company from the French
of M. Victor Cherbulez, is the initial volume
of series in which Messrs. D. Appleton &
Co propose to represent the choicest ty pes Of
current European fiction. 1t may be said that
this literary enterprise is at least we'll begun
Samuel Brohl is a favorable and worthy type
of good French fiction; it is witty, aboundipg
in fine points of Characterization. of subtle
touches and the essential charm of utter waiv-
ing of the native right to bore other people-a
right which Frenchmen undoubtedly possess in
common with the rest of mankind, but of
which they rarely avail themselves. One
yawns in thinking what might have been the
define alton of the hero Of this novel, in the
hands of George Eiot-yawns. be it under
stood, furtively and with respect to her really
great genius; one shudders as after peril es-
capped to imagine the nature of Samuel Brohl
interpreted by Mr.. Henry James or Mr.. Juli-
an Hawthorne; one is charmed with the ad
mrable dramatic instinct, the sure, quick
touch, and the curiously fine design of this
double soul, which, compounded of meanness
inherited by nature and fantastic nobility
seized BY informal process, approves itself at
once to the Imagination of the reader. We
are allowed to watch its motive and its per-
formances, sufficiently in the authors
confidence to avoid all irritating sense
of being treated like a child for
whom transparent surprises are pre-
pared, and, on the other hand, the interest
is not lessened by any tendency of the author
to say, "Here is M. Brohl. quite harmless,
assure you. Do not be afraid to handle him /;
see. have removed his teeth and his claws, we
may examine this wild creature safely With
the use of this muscle his claws were once for
midable; it was this muscle that gave force to
his leap, these incsors that hold in my hand
were terrible in his head.' Familiarity, even
on paper, results in contempt, and NJ Cherbu-
liez's manner, according respect to his readers
and his dramatis PERSONA alike, is worthy of
attention. Samuel Brohl and Company is
book to be read with enjoyment of each page,
not to be buried through in novel readers
fashion, to arrive at the end. The end is good
but the means are admirable; NJ. Cherbuliez has
the true art of the story teller, and though his
novel is finely constructed, the manner of re-
lating it is after all its greatest charm. AL
though Samuel Brohl is the figure upon which
the artist has bestowed his chief care, those of
minor importance are scarcely less worthy of
commendation-th charming, frank and deli
cate nature of Antoinette; her father, Pres-
dent of the Academy of Sciences, fossil
whose heart has declined to petrify; the brave
Camille de Langis, character full of naive
nobility, the goodhearted, sentimental and
opinionated Mile. de Moiseney-all these and
others are drawn with point that is
of the drama aud reality which is from life t.
The plot is exceedingly ingenious and well,
managed The translator has done his work
for the most very well; occasionally bunting
| sharp little point, as for instance-"He con-
| sidered it useful to be at peace with both con-
| science and portress" which is a sentence
| comparatively unintelligible; but in which had
the French word concierge-been retained-a
word very well known to travellers, that is to say
to all Americans-the sound, in which is the
sense of Samuel Brohps little epgram, would
have been preserved. Such minute criticism,
however, must give way to the appreciation of
| the merit of the translation which Is almost in
variably Eeasy, spirited, intelligent and un-
| affected. Future volumes in this series will be
| eagerly awaited by the readers OF Samuel Broh.
| and Company.
My Bonny Lass, by Mrs. G. " Hamilton,
| Boston: Estes s. Iauriat; Portland: Dresser,
Mcclellan s. Co.. is romance of elevated
tone and much literary beauty. 1t is sad
story, but with poetic and heroic quality that
raises it from morbdness. 1t is a novel writ
ten with genuine talent, command of pathos.
and we'll chosen words; aud its constant sue
cession of minor chords, unrelieved by any
brighter harmonies, has a charm Of its OVID,
like changing shadows when clouds cross the
| light of waning moon.