The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-12

| Orleans.
1.-THE Conquest Of PIassans" Is one OF tn
earliest Of the novels Of Zola's wonderful
"Rougo Macquant" series, and should b,
read just before one takes up that beautiful
story Of "La Faute de IAbbe Mouret," by tn,
| same author.
The publishers Of Zola's novels In thls
country are very fortunate In having secured
the services Of SO clever translator as Johr
Stirling. There may be, and doubtless are
many other literary workers In the United
States fully as able as Stirling to render int
English French text. but we very much doub
II any one else could have caught the spirit
| and movement OF lola SO perfectly as he has
done. His renderings are pervaded through
out with the delicious flavor Of the original
that subtle and evanescent aroma which &C
often escapes In part and Is oftentimes utterly
lost In the process OF literary distillation.
In the work before us there Is but little
framework" and scarcely "a vertebral col.
umn,s as that charming and most brilliant
italian writer, Edmondo do Amicis has dain-
tily phrased 1t In his pen-picture of Zola re.
Gently printed In his "Studies OF Paris"
The story, however, Is filled with unique
and attractive studies Of people who seem to
have grouped themselves together for the
special purpose Of being submitted to the vivi-
section Of this marvellous psychologist. We
agree with the translator, who Is of opinion
that "The Conquest Of Plassans" Is perhaps
more artistic than any Of the lola SERIES
The suddenly -awakened religious zeal OF
the patient. plodding, middle-aged wife Of the
free-thinker Mouret-a zeal 50 consuming as
- III
natural tie, Is one Of the most interesting
studies In all fiction.
There are other characteristics In the book
also worthy 0s -conspiciously those of
the ambitious Able .Eaujas, bis sef-sacrificing
mother, and those two p.-eclous scamps, the
nan Frouche and bis lazy but rasPlng t Wlfe'
The etching OF these two last named peoplee by
The author.
Perhaps those very original creations by
Wilkie Collins in "No Name"-Captain and
Mrs. Wragg--will come closer to them in
less and shiftlessness than anything we can
all to mind.
Ihn CSC 20 whom the works OF lola appear
IMMORAL will find In this work less that is
than In most Of his other novels.
L less brutal, perhaps. from their standpoint
han LAssomor It Is howeyer none the Less
he closing scene, In which the Abbe Fanjas
lurls from him In absolute horror the poor,
dying woman who, forgetting
he priest In the man she loved, would fain
nave thrown herself into his arms.
CHE EARL OF MAYFIELD. Published by T.
B. Peterson q Bros, Philadelphia. y. G.
Eyrich, New Orleans
This Is a new novel, by an anonymous au-
,hor It deals largely with real life and histori-
,al personages, which are treated with g mas
.er's pen, while the scenes are varied and full
IF interest and instruction. The orening
scenes are In the South, some of them being
laid on sugar plantation, and much food
Tor pleasant meditation will be found In the
study of the several characters portrayed,
and one will watch with interest the course Of
the hero, Carew, through years OF uncer-
tainty, until finally he attains the happiness
which he thought the fates had denied him. 1t
has the advantage OF having but few char
acters, with good descriptions, excellent dia-
Ogues well-sustained interest, and contains
the elements Of succes sful novel, the whole
oeing well told, and it will no doubt prove a
success.
AMERICAN Politics. By Alexander johnson.
Henry Holt u Co., New York. JIG. Eyrich,
New Orleans.
This Is very valuable handbook Of Ameri-
can politics, and will be welcomed, not alone
oy the young men for whom it is Intended,
put by all those who desire a ready book Of
reference as to all matters pertaining to the
politics of the States since the foundation OF
the government.