The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-08

latest addition TO Applctons' series OF foreign
auth 1rs. This " work OF such extensive
scope and such careful and fclicitous workman
ship that it ia certain to win moro than an ordi-
nary share OF intelligent attention.
The publishers Of this collection have opened
a fruitful vein in the introduction Of Paul
Heyse to American readers Some Of the au-
thor's poems are said to have been reproduced.
and one OF his dramas has been adapted for the
London stage but none Of the prose narratives.
on which his reputation rests have hitherto. so
far as wo know been translated into English.
This Ia somewhat remarkable when We con-
slider that tho most Of tho works OF his older
compocrs. Froytag and Auerbach. and Of his
coeval Spiehagcn. have received an English
dress. On moro grounds than ono the author
Of The Children OF the World" and Of tho
book before us would seem more likely 10 COM
mend himself TO American and English
taste than either Of tho two elder novelists.
His themes are not idyllc. like those which
Auerbach favors. or historical. like those to
which tho author Of Debit and Credit has OF
late addressed himself. but studies Of his own
time. photographs Of urban society. pictures Of
the busy. daylight world. Like Speilhagon. he
has seen much and lived intensely, and he has
also read much and thought deeply. Whether
he portrays the ideas. preIudiccs and manners
Of the nristocracy in a country whose social sys-
tom has not wholly thrown on the gives OF fcu-
dalism. or depicts the grooves to which the Phil
istian notions and sentiments Of the money
getting class conilnc themselves or intcrprets
the aims. customs. and spirit OF artist life-in
each case tho performance bears the marks
Of exhaustive experience and exceptional in
sight. We are impressed. ms we sean the COM
position. with a conviction Of the writer's thor
ough acquaintance with that German world.
whose phenomena and significance are pro-
jected on his canvas. In word. Paul Heyse
has boon profound student Of human life and
possesses this supreme qualification Of the mod
ern novelist more fully than any OF his German
contemporaries In the same field. II We except
Speilhagcn. and possibly Sacher Masoch.
The author OF I'm Paradise" not only draws
from abundant stores OF knowledge. but in Gull
ing and grouping. in docphering. illumining.
and ombellishing no discovers in his ripper
works the eye and touch OF trained artist.
Amid the conscientious realism of his por-
traiturc he has learned TO keep steadily In view
the laws which govern and accredit the novel as
u work OF art. and his most vivid pages hot
transcripts apparently from the press OF lifc.
are yet compacted with singular ingenuity in an
organic composition. and made to emphasize
and further central aim. Tho diverse merits
which We are accustomed to assign to French
and English works Of fiction are in conspicu-
Gus degree combined in the present novel;
There is n plot and two or moro undcrplots
each of which sel2cs attention. proyokes curl
osy. and keeps with satisfactory rcticcnco tho
KEY Of It's eyolutions until the closing scenes.
IL would De almost as easy 70 interest a child in
the skeleton Of the story as in tho cunning web
Of incident which forms the basis OF Gaborau's
or Btots narratives. This is a test which no
one probably would think OF applying to Thack-
cray. and with most English writer's truth and
vigor Of characterization seem 10 be the cardinal
objects But this story" In Paradise "-attests
al once tho powers Of q tale weaver and OF a
creator Of living characters.
There is another merit far from common
among German writers Of our day but which
Paul Hcyse shares with Spiehagen. and that
is a lucid. graceful and finished style. On nl-
most every page are thoughts whose apt and
happy expression finds Judgment in the mem
DRY. Ii is true that this writer's diction has not
the swiftncss. tho compression the nervous
sweep which distinguished Problematic Char
acters from the work Of other German hands
but IT has even more Of a poets delicacy and
pictorial vividncss. Now and then you linger
over sentences whose turn and whose aroma
you would as vaihly seek to reproduce ms
Helno's or Dc Musset's This has made the
task Of tho translator peculiarly laborious. but
We may say here that the performance is ex-
trcmcly creditable. Since Van Iaun's transla-
ton ~ Tainc. We have seen no English version
Of literary work which approaches il in re-
spoct Of sustained precision. case and energy
The nnme Of the translator is not given. but the
reader will not fail - congratulate tho publish
ers on securing the services Of one who is
plainly not only an accomplished scholar but
the master Of Il literary faculty such as Is but
seldom devoted TO anything but original COM
position. We may add that the author Of the
English version has done wisely in condensing
parts Of certain chapters that dwell on themes
as TO which interest is less widely dffused in
American than in German society and also to
omit the short lyrics occasionally INTERCEPTED.
This introduction Diverse. although the practice
was to some extent sanctioned by Scott wears
look Of incongrulty for English readers.
The title OF this book-"In Paradise
the unfinished group OF Adam and Eve, dis
closed to us upon our first Introduction to the
studio OF the sculptor who, from the first page
10 the last, fills the foreground OF the canvas has
an obvious and also symbolic meaning 1t is the
name OF retreat. half garden and half hall, a
secure refuge from Phistnism. resorted to at
certain seasons " knot OF chosen spirits be-
longing 10 the artist world OF Munich. But the
designation OF tho novel also foreshalows the
unconventional happiness toward which tho
pair whose fortunes WE arc won 10 trace with
passionate sympathy drift under tho relentless
pressure Of circumstances. and where, after
yicisstudes and suffering OF no common poR-
nancy. they find haven of content and peace.
And we are early made to recognize in the cen
trial figures of the sculptor, Hans Jansen. and OF
Julie,two beings OF such large fresh, and noble
natures, sol little spoiled or vugarized by friction
with the world ms to be not unworthy dcnizens
Of new Eden. Interwoven with the
! story OF these lovers, which begins Tx n trag
! cdy and ends like an idyl. run many threads OF
melodrama and of light comedy. the whole
Offering panorama Of human life alike in III
! luminous and its tonebrous aspects its asp IT.
! ings and It's lnfamies the anguish and the "a,
! ETY., its beauty and its basoness Not a few OF
| the minor characters arc frauRht with genial
mrthfulness which con hardly fail TO infect
many who havo sometimes found themselves
inscnsiblo TO German humor. In the portrait
Of his heroine the author has unloldcI the
| height and sweetness OF the feminine nature
with rare insight and felicity. nor are two, Al