The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-18
THE WORLD OF LITERATURE.



Any novel from the pen of Henry F. keenan,
must possess special interest to the citizens of
indianapolis, as he was once connected with the
daily press of this city. His Franco American
story, however, bearing the above title. has at
tracted wide attention, and, for the most part,
has received favorable consideration, it being
generally admitted to be better than his first
work of Importance, 1.-THE Money Makers" Mr..
Keenan's great fault is literary or verbal man
nerisms. in the exercise of which he seems to
delight, though it is to the detraction of the
merit Of his work
The plot of ''Trojan" is laid in Paris, in the
American colony at the time of the outbreak OF
the Franco Prussian war; the moving causes of
which he attempts to reveal His characters,
for the most part, are Americans. Trojan Gray,
the title role hero is an American artist. with
studio in the Latin Quarter. Tilted by Theo
Carnot of Freneh-American family, he is
presented as contemplating suicide, when he
fortuitously fell in with Elliott Arden, son of a
wealthy widow, and through him forms the ac-
quaintance Of chaming circle of young people.
Trojan is an ardent Republican, and as such
and member of Republican club, he is brought
into contact with distinguished Frenchmen like
Gambetta and others. Theo by a reverse of
family fortunes, takes upon herself to be the
business man" of the family, and one prepares
to admire her for her self-sacrifce and deft man
ner of repairing the break, all of which she I'M
dertakes and accomplishes in order that her
brother, Jules, may hold his own among his no
more fashionable, but weather. fellows in col
lege. She soon turns out to be a most adroit
cnhay dpoiva ic nr1ial lv
changed to contempt. Without being
pretty, she is fascinating because
OF her bearing and her wonderful personal
graces of conversation and diplomacy. Through
her the family make their way into imperial
favor, so that her influence is courted, and her
business" greatly enhanced. The writer under
takes to take the reader through the mysteries
of bal masque given by the Emperor. and soon
after transports the scene of action to noble
chateau some miles from the city, where full
play is given to the ove-making of
the several young people and to the
bilious scheming of Theo Carnot The
company is soon scattered. however. by the war,
and Trojan. Republican as he is, by strange
turn in the cards of fate, is the instrument that
effects the escape of the Empress to England.
embody something like the true history of her
escape, for it was through DR.. Evans, an Ameri-
dentist high in royal favor that it was
effected 1t was a great mistake in every
respect that this was not done.
The writer while possessed of energy of
description, is too prolix, and his moraliz-
ing is tiresome. Early in the book
he makes one of his characters
carry on a cultured one-sided discussion of some
twenty minutes though the time allowed for it
is while the two are ascending one fight of
stairs On their way to dinner. "Trojan," while
engaging. cannot be regarded particularly
strong. His analysis of character is not deep,
nor has he the power of conveying his own i'm
pressions to his readers. 1t fails to be hstor-
ical novel; and must be placed in the category of
society stores as which it takes fair rank. 1t is
published by Cassell g. CO., and sold by the
Bowen Merrill COMPANY