Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-01-05
TIE BOOKS OF lSS2.

| The year that is gone was not one Of i'm
mense importance, from a literary point of
view. Indeed, in the whole number of books
published both in this country and England
-agsregatng several lhousand-it is diff
cult to name but very few entitled to the
first rank in literature. The low plane reach
ed by the literary effort of The year IS well
shown by the general survey published in
the Literary HOrM-;,n annual record which
is of great interest and value. Thus In fic-
ton, 1t says that among the two or three
hundred that have been published we should
be at loss to name one that in subject,
manner, and interest deserved place
in the front ranks" The final judgment
of the Literary lorld may be of in
tcrest. 1t says: "From all this
dead level of monotonous modcrateness not
one mountainous work lifts its head but If
we were forced to name the foremos, novels
of the year we should say, Anne, "A Mod
crn Instance "A Reverend IDOL 'Democ-
racy,' Little Sister, Marion Fay God aud
the Man. and The Captains ROOM"
In history the year has not very much to
show. George Bancroft has given us two
volumes on the Formation of the Constitu-
ton of the United Slotcs," II. II. Bancroft
the first of three volumes on Central Amer
ici,' and Mr.. Lccky the third and fourth
volumes of his England in the Eighteenth
Century," Mr.. John Richard Green has CIV
en- us the story of THE Making of England
The story of England's Constitutional His.
tory has been told by Professor Yonge of
Queens College, Belfast; that of the king
dom OF Ireland" by Mr.. Walpole; and that
of Englands modern "Epochs of Reform by
Justin Mccarthy. The field of American
military history has been almost monopolized
by the Campaigns Of the Civil War" to
which popular series six volumes Lave been
added, namely; Palfrcy's The Antietam
and Fredericksburg, Doublcdiys "Chancel-
louisville and Gettysburg" Cist's Army of
the Cumberland" Cox's ATLANTA" and "Thc
March to the Sea-" and Grecnc's "Mississip-
p" General Cox has also given us a Mono
graph on "Thc Second Battle of Bull Run"
being the reasons for his unfavorable judg-
mcnt in the Fitz-John Porter case.
In art, handbook Of the whole "lIisory
of Wood Engraving has been written by
Mr.. g. f. Woodberry, and a review Of
"Wood Engraving in America by Mr.. WI.
Linton. Among general treatises the most
important have been II translation Of Won
of Art Itr
Dyer's discussion of Initiative Art, its
Principles and Progress" chiefly with refer
ence to Greece and Rome Ilamerton's
Graphic Arts" Mr.. Morriss "lIopts and
Fears for ART" Mr.. George Redford's MAN
ual Of Sculpture" and Molctts illustrated
Dictionary of Words Used nlAr and ARCHIE
ology"
In biography, there have been some i'm
portant books, Mr.. Froudc's account Of
Carlyle's first forty years, heads the list.
Emerson, Cariylc's friend, and his compan-
ion almost in death as in life, has been treat
ed by several writer's, notably Mr. Conway,
Mr.. Acott and Mr.. Alexander Ireland of
England. OF Longfellow we have had no
less than -four cXtemporaneous sketches--Mr.
Keunedys, Mr.. underwood's, Mr.. Stod-
dard's, and the Tucker MaCchetta's. In the
new series of american Men of Letters"
five volumes have appeared-Mr. Warmers
Giving Mr. Scuddel's webster" Mr..
Sanb0rn's "Thoreau," Mr.. Frothlneham,s
Ripley and Mr.. Lounsbury's Cooper"
Five volumes have appeared in its compan-
ion series of American Statesmen - Mr..
Morse's "Adams," Mr. Lodges Hamilton"