Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-10-30
History of Gustavus AdOlphus
BIZ JOIN L. STEVENS.

man Va fthidAA7biC 2cHiASs anu
himself by an extraordinary career, in a stir
ring age, amid striking events. To present
him correctly to American readers has been
the effort Of the author of this volume From
his early youth this man passed his life in
exciting activity and constant labor. and in
every period of his career he had opportunities
to bring out his high qualities of character
and his ability a great leader of men. In
his preface the author remarks
"The War of Thirty Years, long and
terrible struggle between Catholicism and
Professionalism, largely influenced by the riv-
airy and bitter hostility between France and
qualities of the Swedish king The influence
Of his reign on his own country, and of his
career in Germany on the prospects of Prot
estantism in Continental Europe, will always
constitute an interesting theme for historical
students and readers. A military man of
remarkable powers, his high moral qualities
and lofty purposes forbid his standing in the
category of the Alexandero, the Marlboroughs,
thrilling with all that is exciting and terrible
in war. his life is perused with interest and
profit by those who wish to understand some
of the most momentous events which have
influenced the history of the modern world.
The author has read and carefully considered
whatever might throw light on his character
and career. TO this end he has studied the
best Swedish, German, French, and English
writer's on the subject, and has improved
suggestive conversations with Swedish
scholars and statesmen; and this volume is
the result"
The majority of those who have been in
terested in the career of the great Swedish
king, have known little of him except his
brief history after he passed with his army
to Germany and became the Protestant cham
pion against Austrian imperial and ultra Cath
Ollie combinations and designs. But his previ-
GU, career in his own country, hi, course amid
scandinavian complications and dangers his
efforts for Swedish ascendency in the Baltic
his wars with Denmark, Russia and Poland
to make good the independence and security
of Sweden, the wisdom and vigor of his
home administration, and full statement of
the causes which induced him to take part in
German affairs, these are full of stirring in
terest, and are necessary to be known in or
der that the conspicuous part he played in
the Thirty Years War may be clearly under
stood
The author does not endorse the view. that
the great Swedish king placed himself at the
head of a Protestant crusade, and made his
Germanic campaigns mainly for religious
reasons dor does he take the other extreme
opinion recently put forth by some writers,
that the aims of the great warrior and states
man were exclusively political and dyuastic.
The author rejects both extremes as incor-
rect. and indicates plainly by the balance of
authoritative proofs, that Gustavus possessed
strong religious convictions, and that his
Germanic career was caused and controlled
BY a combination of theological, political,
and dynastic motives in which personal ambi-
ton played its part. But this blending OF
motives and reasons was So complete, that it
is not correct to maintain that any one gov
erned to the exclusion of the others.
To bring the Swedish hero fairly before
his readers, to throw light on the early years
of his reign, to make clear the dangers and
difficulties with which Gustavus Ado!phus
had to contend at home, the writer gives a
brief sketch of Swedish history and of his
immediate predecessors. He also presents a
condensed and consecutive account of the
Thirty Years War; and how it was conducted
prior to the taking part in it of the Swedish
king, in order to clearly appreciate under
what conditions aud circumstances he began
! the great Germanic career, which he termin-
ated so gloriously on the bloody field of Lut-
zen. Mr. Stevens gives strongly marked
portraits of the principal leading actors in the
great historic drsma-Ferdinand II, Richie
| lieu, MAMMALIAN of Bavaria. Wallenstein,
! TAlv. John George of Saxony, and of that
remarkable statesman. Axel Oxensterne.
Mr.. Stevens is possessed of unusual abili-
ties for the preparation of such work as
this An able writer. with o mind train ed in
the school of practical political and diplo-
matte affairs and enriched and strengthened
by close study of books and keen observation
of men, having had six years service at the
Swedish Court as United States Minister, the
very theatre on which the memorable deeds
of Gustavus Adolphus were wrought, his
work shows the master hand in every page.
! 1t will be read 18th admiration by all who
are able to appreciate the great subject of
which it treats, and prove an entertaining
and instructive volume to all who peruse it
The Putnams have brought out the work
in superb style; it has fine steel engraving
| of the Swedish hero. and makes a crown octave
of $50 pages. Ii is for sale in Augusta at
Milliken's bookstore.
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.Published by &. P. Putnam's Sons. New York.
New York Tribune, 2Sth.
Hosting a FOrger With His Own
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