The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-03-27
Recent Publications.

Recent Publications..
Mr.. Henry James's novel, Confidence, is
certainly entertaining and easy reading, though
like others from his pen it confirms the i'm
preston that the author has not the construc-
tive power requisite for genuine story telling.
His novels are international sketches; studies
of characteristics hardly Of character; they
are interesting trifes; they are cleverly
touched pictures of society more or less pos
sible-but they have no more serviceable stem,
fed by no richer juice from livelier root than
the muslin roses of the milliner. The bab-
bling belle of the period of course appears in
this novel-Mr. James succeeds to perfection
in her likeness, and never fails to make in
finite variety in her charming imbecilities, her
pretty ways, and astounding mixture of inno-
cence and audacity. Blanche Evers, in Con-
fdence, is one of the very prettiest of these
irresponsible little ladies' AS to Angela Viv-
ian, her portrayal simply proves what has been
more than suspected-that Mr.. James cannot
describe bright woman who also happens to
be sensible. The attitudinizing labeled dig
nity the inscrutable GOODNESS supposed to be
refinement Zone is reminded of over-frugal
housekeepers who say in their recipes for
cookery "a cup of snow is as good as an egg,
any day'D, and a certain obtuseness to verbal
injuries which is meant for generosity of tenn
per-combine to make up a character which
interests the reader but little. Mrs. Vivian, a
Puritan touched with insincerity, is family
sketched, but telling. The contrasted charac-
ters of the heroes gave good opportunity, of
which the author has fairly we'll availed him.
self. But his most refined personages permit
themselves to give and receive vague imper-
tinences which the author fails to resent in
their behalf. The forte of Mr.. James is in
social semi-burlesque and in a process of trans
lation of French literary quality into English
fiction; for work requiring originality, deeper
than trick of manner, or knowledge Of real
people and affairs, he seems incapable His
novels appeal to a certain class of very agree
able persons. who moreover are apt to be ready
with the pen and express their satisfaction in
the columns of :the Atlantic Contributors
Club. Mr.. James's novels are articles of
luxury; it is not likely they will ever become
Literary ucCcSSltlcS. \Dootou. houShooh ~
Osgood; Portland: Loring, Short & Harmon.
Boston Monday Lectures, On Labor, with
Preludes on Current Events. By Joseph Cook.
These lectures have all the force, the rapid
and overwhelming eloquence of Mr.. Cooks
previous addresses; and contain much sound
and useful doctrine upon the questions regard
ing Labor and Capital, which the country is
at present called upon to solve. As the open
ing sentence of his first prelude has it ICON
cerning the hard money political party, and a
cheap jack and burglar, greenback and green
horn gang" The relations of rich and poor;
the employment of children in factories, their
wages and their rights; natural and starvation
wages; and Trades Unions are among the top
les treated. The preludes range far and wide
over Socialistic politics in Massachusetts, Re-
ligion and Scie nee, National Solvency, Roman
and Modern International Unity, etc. 1t is
not of course possible to take literally every
phrase Of Mr.. Cooks fiery rhetoric-but this
volume is certainly one of the most valuable OF
his contributions to the literature of the time,
and one which affords much matter for thought
and comment. Boston: Houghton & Osgood;
Portland: Loring, Short & Harmony
vergil. Classical Writers Series. BY H.
Nettleship. (New York: D. Appleton & Co.;
Portland: Dresser & McLellan.) This is a vol
ume excellently designed for the aid of stu
dents of Vergil's poems; and sets in order the
chronology and argument of the Aeneid; while
by a fine description Of the social and literary
life of the Augustan age, it renders clear and
ineligible the character and writings of the
Roman poet. Prof. Nettleship has done his
work in very attractive fashion. His literary
comments are ingenious and scholarly; while
pointing out certain inconsistencies in the Ae-
neid he understands that literary lapses may
occur to the greatest pens; and by no means
concludes that Vergil was some one .else, or a
school of brother poets, because he sometimes
contradicts or repeats himself. Such crit icism
as Prof. Nettleship's assists the perception OF
the student without lessening his literary
faith. OF Vergil's personal life we learn some
particulars. He took little part in war or in
politics; he was tall and dark, and with the
manner of a student unused to town life; he
was, moreover, slow of speech. His friends
were greatly attached to him; Horace called
him most transparent and lovable soul. He
was slow and painstaking as writer but ex-
celled in the reading of his verses, which he
gave with exquisite effect. 1t is entertaining
to read extracts from the criticisms of Vergil's
contemporaries who declared him an innovatoi
and maker of new words. "The great power
of Vergl's style," says Prof. tNettleship, "lies
in the haunting music of his verse, in the
rhythm and fall of his language;" and the
writer continues in an admirable passage upon
the musical quality of verse, which proves
himself to possess the finely tuned ear which
he recognizes as a necessity to the making and
to the appreciation of poetry. This series il
edited by Prof. j. R. Green, whose name-a'
| well as the worth of the volumes already is
| sued-is guarantee of its use and desirability
| for every student of the classics.
The Acme Library published by Jos. s
| Sanborn, American Book Exchange: New
York; Portland: Loring, Short & Harmony is
fulfilling the promise of giving the best litera
| ture in cheap and convenient form. Standard
Biography is volume containing twelve bio
| graphical sketches, including Macau
lays Frederick the Great, Carlyle.
Robert Burns, Lamartine's Columbus
&C., all of them essays of acknowl
edged merit and authority. Another volume
of the same series contains Pilgrims Progress
with illustrations; and still another includes
the Vicar of Wakefield, Rasselas, Paul ant
Virginia, Picciola, Undine and Two Captain
"a choice collection of tales which have be
come classics.
The Heart of 1t. By William Osborne
Stoddard. (New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons
Portland: Loring, Short & Harmony Thi
story is somewhat rough and unpractised il
style, but fairly carries the reader along witt
its power and earnestness. 1t is unconvention