The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-12-07
New Publications.
GIFT BOOKS.

-Four illustrated books claim a special word OF
holiday recognition. They are of such contrasted
character that they belong quite apart-as good
reason perhaps as any for putting them together.
We refer to Dore's illustrations of Poe's Raven
| Stoddard's "Red Letter Days Abroad" Holmes
"Grandmother's Story of Bunker Hill Battle.r and
| Essays of Elia"-the Temple edition.
The exquisite press work of Harper & Brothers
edition of Poes Raven, with illustrations by Dore
large fslio shows how rapidly the printing press
is advancing on the track of the plate printer The
title page designed by Elihu Vedder, is worthy of
Dore whose work it illustrates fine criticism ON
the poem by Edmund G. Stedman precedes the illus
trations and is justly appreciative of Poes genius
and his most famous work. These illustrations are
the last from the hand of Dore and it is gratifying
to have at least one American subject illuminated
by the genius of the master Every one is familiar
with his faults and his ncongrutes but no one can
help admiring his work. Some of these designs are
wonderfully fine, as the one illustrating the line
Doubling, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared
to dream before
where Death is represented as skeleton. collosa
figure seated on barren globe, with the constella
tions of the two Bears shining coldly above him
while among the drifting clouds below flies the
Raven. Equally fine is the Raven at the Lattice
where the wall towers up like the Ogres Castle in
Dore's "Hop o. My Thumb" and the fateful Raven
throws huge shadow over the lattice where he
perches in the moonlight. The Raven perched on
the Dust OF Pallas is very strong and ine and the
hadowy faces about it seem entirely In accord with
the subject, which is not the with the ghosts
In some OF the other plates. The Sphinx with the
Deaths head is poetic resolving Of the mystery
worthy of the imagination OF the artist The meet
ing in the distant Aidenn," where the angels sit
around with their hands in their laps, has touch
of the comica. as has the '1ate visitor entreating
entrance who is young woman. The door, too,
is out Of drawing. The Opening wide the door, is
also drol, two three stout females being iamrned
behind each half of it. "The Nights Plutonian
Shore is disappointing the figure of Death carrying
off Lenore detracting from the majesty of the con-
ception. The entrance of the Raven is very spirit
ed and the poet lying in the shadow on the floor is
admirable. The finest conception of Lenore is in
the engraving which represents tile distracted hero
as seeing her on a tablet at his feet. The light
on the figure is exquisite; but the figure itself II
made too distinct for a dream. In the opening pic
ture where the same face peers over the shoulder
of the dreamer 1t is perfect The manner in which
the subjects are lighted, some by the fire. some by
the lamp and some by the mystic light behind the
Raven, gives admirable variety. This cannot fail
to be popular gift book and will be valued as
work of permanent interest.
Iuo tuousdHuS VI uSbeuefb 10 MI. SuOQQafQS Drill
liant lectures will welcome the souvenir of travel
he has prepared for them, the contents of which
are "Travels in Sunny Spain" The Passion play at
Ober-Ammergau, in $780," and "The Cities of the
Gar" The book is very handsomely gotten up,
with many fine engrayings 1t is hound in cloth,
full gilt, in tree calf antique morocco and will
rank among the choice gift books of the season.
Holmes poem is full of fun, and is capitally Illus
TRACED by II. n. NIcVickar, in colored Autographs
a la John Gipin and certain other English comic
masterpieces 1t is a jolly book, notwithstanding
that the tragedy and bloodshed of Bunker Hill are
set forth graphically, and Warrens death is given
in its personality, not as vague abstraction But
these verses deal with the bright side:
And we sometimes walked together
In the pleasant summer weather;
PLEASE to tell us what his name wasp
"Just your own, my little dear
There's his picture Copley painted:
We became so well acquainted
That-in SHIRT, that's why I'm Grandma
and you children all are here"
The Temple edition is certainly au ideal edition Of
broad margins on beautiful laid paper A portrait
of the author followed at intervals by eight etch
iDgs by Plat, Smile, Church and Swain Clifford.
These are requisite and especially appropriate to
| the graceful writing Of Charles Lamb. The cloth
binding is simple but handsome 1t ia as desirable
as any book published this season,-a literary
treasure.