The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-04-07
"a FAIR BARBARIAN.n p
IS Nicolson street, Edinburgh, Scotland,
March, 1881.

The public need little information as to the
author of this work. There have been few more
striking successes in literature than that achieved
by Mrs. Frances HodgsOn Burnett, an English
lady, who had early made America her home
The editor of scribner's Monthly early discerned
her talent Her reputation was made by her first
novel in that magazine "That Lass O. Lowries'
fairly electrified the reading world. 1t was re
ceiVed with enthusiasm In both continents, and
English critics have We'd with America In It's
praises, while edition after edition has been alb.
sorbed by an eager public, "Haworths' followed,
and fully sustained its authors reputation.
Louisiana" which came next, presented her in
a new and entirely different field; but 1t was, II
anything, even greater literary success than It's
predecessors. In her latest novel, "a Fair Bar
barlan," we find Mrs. Burnett amid still other
scenes and characters and here she seems likely
to eclipse, at least so far as popularity Is con =
Cerned all her earlier trlumphs The title Of the
story Is in itself most happy conception. The
Fair Barbarian" is young American lady who
has lived In Nevada, and who comes upon an
English country town, with the suggestive name
Of "slowbrldge" to astonish It's inhabitants by an
| individuality Of character wholly unique,
1t not fair to forstall the readers interest by
revelation Of the whole Of the full plot Of the story
but its more salient points may be suggested.
The heroine is a thoroughly interesting and
original creation. She Is thoroughly American,
She is entirely unconventional In her ideas when
| tried by English standards. She coniounds and
amazes the rigid devotees Of propriety, with
whom she comes In contact in this sleepy English
village. All look upon her with mingled curiosity
and wonder. She absolutely horrihes Lady Theo
bald, who is the head Of slowbridge society, and
who embodies all that is arrogant, angular and
domineerng in the worst type Of the British reg
ulator Of the proprietles, The raciness Of the
scenes that attend the meeting Of these parties ia
indescribable. The American girl is not an un'
tanned hoyden, by any means. She is, on the con-
trsry, rue-womanly in the best sense Of the term.
She is kind OF artsympathetic and self'respeot-
ing-s really lovely, II somewhat unconven .
tlonal, person. She II high-spirlted, too; and
while she manIiests a willingness to learn the
standards Of those among whom her lot Is tenn
porarily cast, there is a charming, youthful dig
nifty about her which Is one Of the best points In
her delineaton. or course she finds her:lover.
OF the results thst attend his wrong VIC leave the
reader to learn from the story. The merit Of the
novel is largely In its admirable purpose and the
exquisite skill with which 1t is carried out. 1t Is
a refreshing vindicstion Of the American girl,
whom 1t has been too much the custom Of writers
to depreciate Of late, Mrs. Burnett knows her
well and does her ample Justice, She knows
England too, and we have the benefit Of that
knowledge in the types Of English character pre-.
sented.
Her book is likely not only to succeed in favor
beyond her own previous productions, but to gain
popularity which none other Of those novels
which have treated this phase OF the American
girl question have obtained.