New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-10-13
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
BALZAC IN ENGLISH.

seems to feel that there is some DOUBT as 10 ,,o
success of the experiment, which mcluu'S' IL 'u0
public approve the initial essay, the presentation III
English of several of the great Fr"nchmah oV"oi
works. Perhaps the slow rccognit'h Oh o"
genius by the American and English public may be
capable of ineligible explanation The magnitude
OF his Work is alone sufficient to rcpcl such as ohy
look to French fiction for cphemcral S'nNatl'L'
whilethe of his purpose might nthn iale
fhose WHO imagined that he was didactc and There
fore dull But the time should now he ripe Tor Tic
introduction of English-spcaking people 10 an
author who by right Of genius stands alone among
his contemporaries, and whose marvellous kn"wl-
edge of human nature, subtle analytic power
cncyclopRdic learning and brilliant descriptive
talent Justify the daring comparison OF hls ptV'uc
tive force with that of Shakespeare.
To understand BalZac thoroughly, indeed lie
must be read in the original and as whole
Selected pieces from the Coincide Humane may
convey a sufficiently clear apprehension for the
public of his powers, but n careful study o. tnat
wonderful scheme throug hout is Indispensable 10
real knowledge of his aim AMI scope The come
die Humane" is the most remarkable work OIL 'tS
kind extant. 1t is not mere fiction IL Is as IaN"'
intended it to be. faithful history CT The france
of his time; a history so faithful and 50 detailed
that We're all other contemporary literature "c-
stroyed, postcrity could from tins work rccohsuuct
general preface (which tho American publishers
have judiciously pre:xod to their translation oil
"Perc Gcriot0 the author gives some account OF his
nlor. His aim was t. do for society what Button
mad dome for the animal kingdom. Since however
men and women are complex creatures ana sih'c
their acts and suileriHgs are caused manly 10y lho
influence of passions whose treatment deHiah"S "
profound study of psychology 1t is evident that inc
task of the novelist or. as he might DC betterhaucd
tbe social historian, must be much mere dlihcuIt
than that Of the naturalist.
Dalzac. however supported by that confidence IN
its own powers which 50 often characterizes genius
Crap2led boldly with this arduous undertaking. lie
was to write the history of his time, nothing c1tcn
Mating. and setting down uaught i'll malice, painting
iu their due proportions the and the virtues oil
the period showing the springs thai moved society
lie passions that furnished motives {" action, the
Ineannesscs the magnaninticS, the rapacltV. Inc
sclfsacrilicc the scnsualty. the purity, tho peiy
the heatLeuisin of his fellow men ana women Ills
equipment for the work was splendid Ills erh"l-
tion was both extensive and curious. He knew not
only common but reccndito things. In science lac
had outstripped his generation. In tie " Comc'ie
Humane may bo recognized tie practical emh"dI-
n,ent of evolutionary philosophy. The influence OF
the environment upon character and conduct rs
ALWAYS insisted upo; by him. And because he never
loses sight of the natural processes through when
cb,ror+,r * uouldcd and changed his characters
possess a peculiar reality and vitality. 10 hA Trey
were indeed living, and the rare faculty by which
in the alenbic of his mind all the complex lhlIu
cnces and agencies concerned went to lorin' com
nlee and vivfy these creations, has ei dowcd them
with so strong an Individuality that they live and
move stn for the reader. Netting thatbclonSed to
Balzacs time escaped him, and hc explored the OBJ
scurer lines of research cOnScicnt!Ously rs these
moro open and clear Thus it IL that there IS 10 Ice
found in his works references to what are now
thought the supernatural theories Of the day, and
lie has sounded The depths OF mysticism with the
Same devotion shown i'll lis pursuit of ply steal
science.
Critics have regretted that lie had no hirh moral
aim, but this regret seems to imply mSapprehoESion
of his purpose not less than error rs to his achcVc-
ments His aim WAS to describe life 1t being
lived under his eyes. That his tendencies were not
debasug Is shown by the striking contrast between
his work and that of lola. In the latters writings
the ugly vile and horrible is elaborated. CNaggcr
ated and kept III the foreground That II col3Ts and
cnaracterizes everything In Balzac there is not
less realism and nothing more graphic than his de-
,criptions Of tho saany side Of hfo has ever been
written But there is no talnt Of luhriclty aud 30
suggestion of liking for tie SO depicted. A
snwbre fire runs through al, the pictures Of low ard
vicious Efc which, while enhancing lie skill OF the
artist moves 10 pity or indignation because OF the
lcsimes so sadly fixed Perhaps no better eX-
ample Of his style than " Pcre GOriot" could be
selected. Perc Gcr"t is tie Lear Of modern society,"
md though the passions which move the characters
are for the most part s0rdii and baso tie rathos
and power of the story great that even in
translation the genius Of tie master is urmistaE-
able There is nothing in fiction more pitiul than
The figure of old GOriot and the skill of the creator
which sets down all the defects and limitations of
The hero thereby acccntuAtcs Lis devotion and the
lgnollc tragedy Of his fat"
-Balzac However, never adopted the modern
rice known as the star system IN dramatic
management There were NJ "Stcks' i'll his
company. Every character is complete, intel
igiblc, consistent, progressive. Neither does
&c pad From beginning to end, save as regards his
descriptions of things and places every sentence
aas direct relation to the working out If tn plot
Aud as 10 thOs long and minnie descriptions which
have vcXcd nm5 critics, they were written with the
distinct and avowcl purpose OF preserving faithful
kencsscs which Should be # use t. the historian OF
The future. Nor they trcs,me, but often secra
to sharpen the realization Of the story, and III al!
rases increase The general Impression If fidelity t.
facts The style of Eallac is very remarkable for its
power. 1t is nervous, full Of suppressed fire,
suggesting brain 81 praliGc of thonghts that the
utmost care had to DC exercised u prevent them
from overcrogliLg one another. The concentrated
force of expression frequently reminds one of
Shakespeare, and bursts Of marvellous imprisoned
cloqucncc-EOt of tbs frothy kind but presenting
truths deep as tic centrc-at intervals as. out,
adding {, tie sense Of rcprossod volcanic power
which pcrv1des th,sc works.
Tho defects of Bahac are those Of his time and
country 1t is curious tat while lac himself finds
no really lofty female characters III English fiction,
even bottll.g tho hcrQincs Of Scott, and advancing
the strange theory that the neglect by Protestant
peoples .of the worship of the Virgin has lowered
their standard of wo'nanhoDd-hlS owl most amb:-
t,ous typos Of riety and purity in woman exhibit