The Portland daily press., 1881-05-14

The poetic art OF our time owes debt OF genu>
inc gratitude to Mr.. Main for delightful and
dignitied setting forth OF the sonnet, its types.
limits and capabilities 1t will greatly aid 20
the defining Of the place and requirements OF
this tender though vigorous plant in the gar.
den of English verse.
Sunrise. By William Black New York:
Harpers; Portland Loring, Short & Harmony
Among the many novels which Mr.. Black has
written-tinished, picturesque, powerful as
they are-he has touched still higher literary
h1evel in this latest work His former stories
divided themselves quite distinctly into two
classes-one of debonair modern comedy,
wherein appear bonny Bell and her lieutenant,
the Pickwickian petulance Of Queen Tita, and
the ostentatious rattle OF the matrimonial
chains of the conscrt of the aforesaid small
sovereign. with pretty sub-humorous thrusts at
the harmless follies of modern fashion, all
these lively light figures serving to give the
inalienable human interest to the most master
ly, deicat:ly exact, and finely touched sea-
pictures that English prose has yet afforded,
or to the fresh and dewy coloring Of pastoral
landscape through which the wheels of the
Phaeton rolled easily on the ways of its ideal
journey. His tragic stories show rapidly
changing contrasts OF light and darkness,
wherein every CLEAN is sure to be followed by
a sombre cloud; and with haste and sweep as
borne by great waters and winds, hero and hero
inc go down to despair and death-leaving
the reader with lasting pain for sake
OF people who have been made real
before his eyes only to be destroyed
at last. These novols arc notable for the
superb ssmiyric monolosues, sometimes the
utterances of dreams, or delirium OF the per-
sonages Of the story; again the comments OF
the author as chorus, where he, in the genuine
choral spirit, raises himself above the sorrows
which he observes, upon the strength aud
height of song like speech. In Sunrise the
dramatic movement, rapid, intense and absorb
ing, leaves little tim, for da,liance with scene-
setting. That Mr.. Black can sketch as rapidly
as he can finish carefully, is shown by the tell
ing lines describing Venetian streets, or the
garden in Naples where Natalie and her moth
er go to plead for Brands life. The keynote
of the story is set by the continually recurring
passages from one OF Mr.. Swinburnes Songs
before Sunrise, tho adorable POEM which he
has named The Pilgrims. Tho supsrb cadences,
long and wild like the roll of waves. the words
bright with the free spleudor of sunlight, re-
turn like the utterances Of mystical chorus
made of all voices that have cried for Liberty.
To this great song, sung for all time, the story
of Natalie Lind and George Brand repliss-,n
episode of a few years, of a few lives that
looked for Liberty in strange ways, and found
her at last on the shores to the westward of
the sea, where from oldest times men have
dreamed to find her. The novel is both inge-
nious and powerful, and Mr.. Blacks fine taste
saves him from any reproach Of sensational
lism. No heroine OF modern fiction surpasses
Natalie Lind in sweetness, strength, pure and
direct candor, and large loving faith. Har
childlike delight in pleasure as she finds it,
the fire and force with which she meets dan
gers are depicted with impulse and insight
Natalie Lind is modern Juliet. George
Brand is thoroughly English by nature-but
the reader will not fail to appreciate the art
with which Mr.. Black has rendered the illu-
mnation of this honorable and brave character
by the double light of liberty and love. Nata-
lies father and mother are portrayed with
great discernment and many subtle touches;
and in Caiabressa a genuine Italian with his
volube vanity blowing trumpet before his
actual courage and diplomacy, able to effect
much il let to work in his own fashion of much
ado about nothing, and strong deeds and ready
ssf-sacrifce at time of need-here Mr.. Black
shows rare and unaffected power of portrait
ure. OF the course of the story, little shall be
said for fear of spelling the readers enjoyment
by telling beforehand a plot which he will
hasten from page to page to learn for himself.
1t concerns the secret societies, akin to those
of the Nihilists, with which the world is at
present undermined and its liberal justice will
do good work in presenting some of these
difficult and dangerous social problems in at
tractive guise. Mr.. Black has made careful
study of these things; and his novel should
have a reading in the hands of political think
ers, as well as by tho class, almost universal,
of those who enjoy rarely good novel,