New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-14
LITERARY NOTES.

II is ono of the oddities of publishing that inc
chief success of the present book-Selling season
sbould be a volume, the contract for when the
nublIshers tried to "buy out of" as bad bargain
Miss Elizabeth Stuart Phelps is proving herself an
ipdefatigable worker. She is engaged upon ne"
serial called Doctor Zay," which Will appear III
The atlantic in 1882. Mr.. w. H. Bishop the author
of Detmold," has given to the same per1odlcal loi
immediate publication a novel of New-lork Iie
entitled 1.-The House of Merchant Prince"
Sam Sherry the hero of Miss McLean's short story
in the coming Harper, is 1.-THE Punch, the by-word'
the theatre comique" of the little New-Engand VII
lace wherein be- lives, drinks and adores at dis
tance 4 gentle Puritan; but the comic
ends IN the pathetic, and some natural
teors are she'd as in the authors cape Coo
Folks"
Another volume of "The Renaissance in Italy" the
work 10 which Mr. John AddingtOn Synouds has
devoted many long and patient years OF research
aud reflection. is about TO be published by Holt ~
Co Those who possess the previously'issue por-
ton of this edition do not need to be told now
great is the care which printer and publisher have
given to its preparation.
Mr.. Warmers " John Smith, the last issue from
the press of Henry Holt & Co., is shortly to be fol
lowed in the same series by Mr.. Alden's Chris
tOpher Columbus. Inc opening CHdPUtI uI0NuSo'o
with much gravity and erudition the various
places at which the great navigator
was born and the numerous dates on which that
valuable event occurred.
Mr. Henry James, who has returned to his native
country, will remain here for the next half
wear. His clever Portrait of Lady Will be
unfinished immediately in book form by HOughton,
MilIin 81 CO. 1t ends like most of Mr.. James's
stories leaving his chief characters in forlon and
unsatisfactory state Of being. The Mrs Gummidge
element is happily not the only one in life and lit
erltuTe.
Mrs. l.. B. Walford, the author of those exceed
inrly popular novels " Mr.. Smith 4 Part OF Hi
1.ifen Cousins" and Troublesome Daughters
has In the press of Henry Holt 81 Co. new story
Dick Netherby" by name. 1t viii be ISSUED
soon. is said that the grace and spirit of Mrs
WaIfords stories are reflected IN her face, which Il
one of pure outlines womanlv softness and refined
intellectual strength She is a young and prosperous
EnglIshwOman.
Mr.. Thomas Hardy, who has been extravagantly
mentioned as the nheritor of the first place il
English fiction left vacant by George Eliot. is about
10 contribute a serial story TO The atlantic. il
should be very good to lift the standard lowered
nv his last novel. The hero OF the "Lacdcean'
is fat. the heroine is a bundle of insolent caprces
and the men and women who surround them are
alike tame or dsagreeable. 1t only adds TO the
niury Mr. Hardy has inflicted upon his readers that
he mas cleverly compelled them to take an interest
in the final stupidities of two most uninteresting
people. Holt 81 Co. will add this nOyel-ac-
companied by some of Mr.. On Maurier's "long
1.-THE illustrations-to their edition OF MIR. Hardy
works.