The Republican journal., 1884-06-19
LITERATURE.

MARGARET FULLER OSsOLI. BY Thomas
Wentworth Higginson. This is the sixth vol
ume in the American Men of Letters series.
and certainly is not the least interesting. Mr..
iigginson's literary work is always we'll done.
His style is attractive and, moreover, we feel
assured that what he states for a fact is a fact.
For reasons which he gives in his Introductory
chapter, Mr.. Higginson is exceptionally quail
fed to be the bographer of Margaret Fuller.
of whom he says that She is "a person whose
career is more interesting, as it seems to me.
than that of any other American of her sex: a
woman whose aims We're high and whose ser
vices great; one whose intellect was uncom-
mon. whose activity incessaut. whose life var
led, and whose death dramatic" 1t is more
than third of century ago that Margaret
Fuller OssoG, her husband and child were
drowned in shipwreck on the New Jersey
coast on their return from Italy--a tragedy
which made great stir at the time and is not
yet forgotten. Indeed, although it is thirty
years since Madame Ossois memoirs" We're
published this gifted and gentle woman has an
honored place in the recollection of all who are
informed as to the literature of their country
and as to the services rendered humanity. Mr..
llggnson's book is made up wholly from fresh
material. all of which is interesting and much
of it important as throwing new light on the
family connections and early years of Margar-
ct Fuller. We are told of her girho ID at Cam
bridge, of her young womanhood, maturity,
marriage, and tragic death. A good account is
given of the "Trauscendentai>ts" and OF the
origin and history of their organ. The Dial,
which Miss Fuller edited. A chapter il given
to Brook Farm, although Margaret Fuller was
not member Of the Brook Farm community.
But She sometimes visited there, and Zenoba in
Hawthorne'> Blithedale Romance will be iden-
tined with her while the literature of the Eng
lish language is read" A chapter is devoted 10
books published, and then we are told of her
"bu>iness life in New York" when she wrote
regularly for the Tribune. In 1876 She went to
Europe and IN 1871 married in Rome Marquis
O>soIl. The tinAl chapters treat of her literary
and personal traits. and in conclusion the all-
thor says: Her life seems 10 M, on the
whole. a triumphant rather than 4 sad one. in
spite of the prolonged struggle with illness.
with poverty, with the shortcomings of others
and with her own. In later Years She had the
fulnlment of her dreams; She had what Eliza
beth Barret. writing at the time Of her marr-
age to Robert Browning. named Is the three
Italy. She shared in great deeds. She was the
counsellor of great men. She had husband
who was a lover. and She had child. They
loved each other in their lives. and in their
death they We're not divided. Was not that
enough:" Is mo- Gilt top. 81 p. IIoughton,
Mitiiin \ Co.,. publishers. Boston.
CHINESE GORDON. By Archibald Forbes
No man of our times whose life furnishes bet
ter material for an inspiring. instructive. and
permanently valuable biography. than that
furnished by "Chnese" Gordon's. Ana it il
doubtful if any man living is better lifted to
measure his exploits appreciate the difficulties
he has encountered. and the wde-rearhing re-
suits Of his fascinating career. than is the ia
nous war-correspondent who has given is thi>
narrative. 1t is book that needs no adycrtiS-
ng. No one can afford to miss it. The recent
events in the Soudan. though of especial inter-
est Just now. form but one of many heroic
episodes in the life of this daring man of action.
who. amid all his seemingly miraculous achieve
mentS has retained the m0le>tv Of 4 school
girl and the sincere pety " 4 saint Of old. This
account follows him down to his recent entry
into khartoum. 1t is written III a clear. livtlN
manner, and III rare good taste. Published in
Funk 4 Wugnals' (l0 and II Dev Street, y
~ Standard Library. Paper, Is cents.