New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-16
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
A PRIMER OF GERMAN LITERATURE BY HELEN 8.
CoKANT. i8mo. Harper Brothers.

A PRTMFR OF GERMAN LITERATURE. BY HELEN 8.
CoKANT ismo. Harper Brothers.
The essence of many volumes Is here pre-
sented in convenient and attractive form, presenting
the wide Geld OF German literature within the limited
compass required for book Of reference or practical
manual for the Of students The work embraces the
whole range the intellectual development OF Germany
from It's origin in remote period Of antiquity to us
xuriant bloom the living authors Of the present day
In the composition Of the volume, the author evnces
singular power Of condensation without the sacrifice OF
either cearness or accuracy While there Is apparently
not superuous word there lack Of the complete
Aess Of detail which essential TO the full comprenen-
sion OF the subject and to intelligent estimate OF te
relative position and merits Of the respective
authors whose works are described. The history ana
criticism different periods illustrated by trans
latons Of characteristic passages in which the author
has made use OF the versions OF eminent writer's rs
wei OF the resources Of her pen The paragraphs
devoted to Losing afford fair specimen OF her com
and Of erse and vigorous expression in presenting the
results Of discriminating judgment in the estimate OF
literary character "His whole life," she remarks,
was devoted to vigorous search after truth All lies
and hypOcrisies he met with snging criticism which
overwhelmed them. There scarcely any branch OF
thought which his constantly active mind did not
traverse He was poet, dramatlst philosopher ana
critic. As dramatist he saved the German stage iroh
ruin sweeping away false idols and French sentimental
ism. He was the author Of many fables as sharp
and penetrating they concise lie never wasted
WORDS Everything he wrote was strong and earnest
The strength OF his character is best seen his critical
and dldace writings. They on all subjects, always
clear and to the point always denunciative OF fseness
and narrowness. Leasing was the first truly liberal
mind in German literature" The author appears to
be almost equally at home in the different departments
Of German literature whohtshe has evidently mastered
by an extensive course Of intelligent reading and con-
sclentous study Her original criticisms are marked by
mOdesty Of expression soundness Of Judgment and apt
ness of suggestion 1t seldom that her statements are
open to question: but the student Of German philosophy
would doubtless take exception to the comment on
Rants ethics that they the nadeQuacy OF every
system which rests higher basis than mere reason
and also to the assertion that Heges philosophy, which
suffered collapse after the death OF its author
has now vanished except in name"-The recent issues
Of Harper's HafHour Series" OF which this volume
forms number, also comprise Hints to Women on the
care Of Property" by Alfred Walker. valuable guide
10 those women who so unfortunate as TO DO
responsible for the management of property, and pre-
senting lucid answer to the thousand peTplexng ques-
tons which arise in such relations; and " Year OF
American Travel" by Jessie Benton Fremont the Easel
mating personal narrative which has won such universal
favor during it's issue in Harper's Magazine"