The Republican journal., 1882-02-23
Literature.

Literature.
AMERICAN MEN OF LETTERS. Edited by
Charles Dudley Warner A series of biogra-
phes of distinguished American authors, hay
ing all the special interest of biography, and the
larger interest and value of illustrating the diff
ferent phases of American literature, the social,
political, and moral influences which have
moulded these authors and the generations to
which they belonged
Briefly stated, it is the object of the series to
present:
lst. The essential facts in the life and career
of each author chosen, and such personal details
as are needed to satisfy curiosity, and put the
reader i'll possession Of his character, spirit, and
literary achievement.
2d. Such an account and critical analysis of
his works as will give the reader fair idea of
them, and aid in determining his rank and place
in our literature.
Sd. 4 study, so far as is practicable in the
limits assigned, of the period in which the
author wrote. regarded from literary point of
view, and of the social tendencies and move
ments, reformatory and other, which deter
mined or colored the literary production. For
instance, such philosophical account of our
literature in its several phases must take into
consideration the early foreign influence: the
later effect of foreign travel and acquaintance
with recent methods of research and compost
ton: the transcendcntal movement in New
England the anti-Savery agitation in the North,
and in the South isolation and the general eXclu-
sion from the movement of modern life invov-
ed in the institution of slavery.
From the arrangements already made, and
the plans which the editor and publishers have
in view, il is quite safe to say that this series
when completed will form an admirable survey
of all that is important and of historical influl-
ence in American literature, and will be in its
preparation a creditable representation of the
| literary and critical ability Of America to-day.
The following volumes are now ready
Washington Irving, by Charles Dudley War
ner; Noah Webster, by Horace f. Scudder. In
| preparation: Nathaniel Hawthorne. by James
Russell Lowell n. z. Willis by Thomas Bailey
Aldrich; Henry u. Thoreau. by Frank B. san
born: J. Fenimore Cooper, by Prof. T. X.
Lounsbury; William Gilmore Simms, by Geo.
| W. Gable. and others to be announced hereafter
1t is expected that the series will contain ten OF
mere 1Gmo volumes, Of 80 to 300 page each
| brought out in the best style of the Riverside
Press. The volumes are tastefully bound and
are sold at the uniform price Of Sl.25 each
! They may be had of the local booksellers or d
rectly from the publishers, Houghton, Mitiiin 4
! Co., Park street. Boston,
NOTES.
PetersonS Magazine for March made its APP
| pearance early in the present month-ls usual
ahead Of its competitors in time as in other re-
spects. 1t is certainly the best of the ladies
magazines, and its wealth of illustrations. bright
stories, numerous patterns, receipts, ETC., etc
must make it Il favorite in every household
| [CharleS j. Peterson, publisher, Philadelphia.
Facts and Fictions of Zoology, by Andrew
| Wilson, PHI D.. forms No. % Of the Humbod
Library of Popular Science. The book is full
of the most curious and out-Of-the-wHy informa
ton about what may be termed the mythologi
cal element in zoology-such fables as that OF
the ">ca serpent" the ''barnace goose. etc.
| and shows what foundation in fact undcrlir>
these odd beliefs of our forefather>. The author
is one Of the foremost naturalistS of England anC
POSSESSES in an eminent degree the faculty o.
popularizing science. The work has % illu>tra
tionS. Price Is cents. j. Fitzgerald K Co
publishers, New York.
The numbers of The Living Age for tn,
weeks ending February 4th and ilth contain
the conclusion of The Future of Islam. and tn,
Journals OF Caroline Fox, Fortnightiy; West
minister Abbey, by Matthew Arnold, Nineteenth
Century; Old and New Canon~ Of Poetica
Criticism, Contemporary; Mrs. Shelley at Pisa
and II Visit to Noltaire, Temple Bar: The
Colors of Flowers, Cornhill; Cprvo, and Labr-
doyere's Doom Fraser; Four Days in Tripoli
and The Stage from bO0-11O0, Month; CoIeridg,
Marginalia, and The Open Door, Blarkwood
\ Prisoners Notebooks = Golden hours: The
Pope at Rome and The Gitls tiniani, Pail Mall
Burmese Lacquer-Ware, st. James Gazette
Mental Work, Modcrn Thought; and the usua
amount of poetry iittell 4 Co.. publishers
Boston.
Mr. Howels'S new story, "A Modern In
stance in the Century, will contain in it
March inStallment an admirable comedy scene
and a surprise in the form of an impromtl
wedding. The frontispiece of the same mum
Der will be Il portrait of the novelist engraved
by ClosSon, after the oil portrait by Frederick
p. Ninton and Mr.. I. 5. Perry contributes a bi
ographical sketch of Mr.. Howells, which is de-
voted mainly to study of the latterS novels.
The Useful knowledge Publishing Co., 16:
William street, New York, are publishing
standard works at absurdy low prices. Thei
second volume, including Rip Van Wrinkle an,
other sketches by Washington Irving. a worE
OF 2i0 pages, neatly bound in cloth, good type
excellent paper and press work, is sold for y
cents, or by mail postpaid for - cents. Th,
company announce as in press. uniform will
Kip Van Wrinkle, Green's Larger History o
the English People, in ) volumes, Sl.50, Car
lyle's French Revolution, , vols. 20 cents
Creasy'S Fifteen Decisive Battles, 35 cents. an,
Schiller'> History Of the Thirty Years War; 3;
cents. These same four famous histories ar,
also to be issued all IN roiume, "model octa
vo, for the amazingly low price of $1.25 Spec
linen pages and catalogue will be sent on receip
of postal card by the publishers.
Bullion is the substantial name of new
monthly, published in New York, which cover.
wide field of statistics 1t summarizes the
transactions of the Stock, Produce, Cotton
Petroleum and Mining exchanges; gives quota
tons of stocks and bonds, a railroad digest, anC
much other matter of interest to investors ant
business men. Indeed, it is impossible to in
dicate in paragraph the full scope of this sta
tistical monthly.
Mr.. Blaine's Foreign Policy.