New-York tribune., 1879-11-11
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

sHAKFsPEARE A BIoGRArHc lfsrSIIIc Shlunn,, bS
OEoRGE "A. CALVERT. l2mo pp. 2i2 Lee sh'p~"
I'm this volume Mr.. Calvert has made an
interesting addition to the series OF attractive mono
er.phs with which he has enriched our palNe literature
nv the wise devotion Of the hours Of learned ana
stuious leisure. scholar OF generous ana widereaeh
ing cultivation. familiar by years OF lntohgen' inter
course with the nohl,st productions OF every age III
literature aud aud cOnversaut with the most Fece"
specuatons on the highest themes of human research
he IL at tue same time an original ana suggestive
thinker alwavs presenting the subjects OF his conten
platOn In the light of his own mind ana tHouSn no'
fee from the benecent conagion OF the great masters
IN philosophy and song. singuary exempt ir"" III
telecmai bias by the action OF tradition ana pre'eue"
Mr. Calvert i essentially OF inquiry aud reflection
lie seems intent on working important problems IN
letters m ethics in manners ana in conduct Tie ie
suits Of solution always presented with gre"'
earnestness of conviction not always with equai SIM
plcty Of style pointeness OF Illustration HIS "lSe
and admirable lessons IN the conduct ot Thought tue
mechanism OF society, and the bSrmon'es oil h'e oe"
lcsc part their force by the highly elaborate uo'on
with which they clothcd-a choice of words 'n" WI"
appear many readers a. an excess OF hee'y' anu
though natural TO the writer as TOO afuhV"' anu
involved Tor transparent cicarness or perfect strength
sti there are modern essaysts whose Writings are
more rrenant in Thought richer n instruction The
shell may sometimes he hard To break. hut II always
incoscs sweet and toOthsome meat. You cannot
read his pages without carrying away giateu sense
stoe ~ quckcning ideas. though you may have been
compelled TO ghi your for 10 the treasure
Yon offer encounter assertion IN tie form OF
paradox hut you fud closer insight that ~ Is an
inco OF gold In truth Mr.. Calvert j. one OF tue l'"
writers whose sense it Is worth while 10 penetrate
through difficult and obscure modes OF expression ba'
YOU will iai o rcap an ample reward ON ira" OF
the expcrncnt Nor would any iudicons reader Wish
for change IN Mr. Caycrt's method His style Is as
much the outcome of ms own individuality as his'o"'
pcxon or voice. aud has here pccn made tne snJ'c
OF comment not for hc purp Of suggesting improve
mont but Of guarding the reader against losing the
4 wells throu IA lack sympathy with tAc f1rn In the
present WORK author has brought forward The iruis
o. profound study Shakespeares genius. with an ex
oui.itc criticism Of OF his principal characters
III, treatment Of the subject includes discussion OF
the nat4re q poetry and the principles of literary art
In general leading idea Of the volume Is the suprem-
acy OF the emotions over the intellect Us the gernuh
essence OF poetry. In the literature OF power the
highest literature. Mr. Calvert Insists the aim Is 10
move. 1t always appeals 10 the feelings. Ii cannot be
TOO often repeated Ariaud than written poetry
There is TO higher fine art-can produce It's genuine
eject on.y throush The medium OF the beautiful III
AT the feelings must show themselves III their
purcst aud most refined mauifestauons None out
the poet can this refinement and he only through
MS ncr capacity for the ideal "Of most literary as'
rants want OF heart may called the most frequent and
intrinsic want causing countless failures ana half sue
ocsses. Many writers striving for the impossi
BILE that make the intellect do tue work OF the SEN
sbuiues as vain expect to spriug into bloom
out OF The frcsbound mould of February The intellect
that most exquisite potent OF tools. is cold
On cice, passOnless the blade that CLEANS IN the
hand Of humane surgeon 10 that o. the brutal nr-
Ccier. The moving force behind 1t. the eager energy
that Wields and rules IT, IS the neart We say the feaFi
bu this - a figure OF speech for the feelings In tie
heart deeps whose storms convUse the being OF
man ana at times shake society ont Of IFS poise The
poet who would portray the convuisions must have
thcse deeps In his heart,wthhed IN HIM from de-
structye uphesval by his moral sense and directed
20 constructive ends by his aesthetic sense" Shake
speare, Mr.. Calvert. was all compact OF intuf
lions There have been men far learned than lie,
never one with b muen knowledge. He knew the
wealth and motions OF the human heartI he knew the
scope aud OF the Intellect The concretons OF
these fiery and women. lie knew with
such discernment his many per In their
yvid personality though GOd-oFeated Men, as they
history and society," he know how To combine into
such passionate groups that nom his incanatons we
learn the secrets OF own bOs> ms such was his
knowledge OF things and men. that his sentences are
wisdom for the invgoraon OF seges such his
lnowledge words that his the dictionary OF
schoas, such his knowledge OF beauty that from his
verse the aud perfumes OF nature gather freshness
In referring the fact that supreme men are rare In
every department Of human eudeavOr, Mr. Calvert pnr-
sues line Of argument remarking that we should
not deem II strange that Shakespeare the only
OF hls age who possessed this " divine penitude Of
power" The bost ot bis contemporaries wanted the
deep basis of dramatic excellence, lively, sure moral
sense II is through the largeness and warmth OF his
heart that poet becomes great 1t through faith
g. the feelings depicts hat he Is productive creative.
for poetry is affirmative religious not negative or scep-
teal This the OF poetry is In the
heart. la the Intellect The intellect performs It's
pnst brilliant tits subseryient 10 the
tons II then highest III ghts aud deScends
a. lis profouhdest depths has 10 the erandest
vstas and iusight the subes secrets. Inh Illus
trdiions OF the genius OF Shakespeare. II will be per
coived that tho author has not followed any beaten
track nor merely echoed the voices OF scholars
His course of thought has original flavor, and the
suggcsiious OF his volume nee and bold as its
ethical aud aesthetic lone is noble ana pure.