The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-13
THE FIELD OF LITERATURE.
New Books.

One OF the latest publications comes from the
house of D. Lathrop & Co. Boston, in the shape
Of q small but neat volume entitled "Our Odys-
sey Club by Agnes GFagg, -a ZIG ssssIIss to be 2
nom de plume of Mrs. Blaisdel. 1t is hard to
say just what is the purpose of the book, whether
simply to entertain pleasantly for a leisure half
hour, to satirize literary clubs, or to commend
them while deity limiting at possible improve
ments. The reader will somehow come to the
conclusion that the Odyssey Club is a Boston in
%stitution pure and simple; that it could not have
existed anywhere else. But the ST. Louis Globe
Democrat processes to know that it is a 81. Louis
production, and that Cave Cliff is no other SUBJ
urb than Carondelet. Speaking Of the book, the
Globe Democrat says:
''The author clearly has no purpose to expose
the operations of any particular club, but rather
to set forth the characteristics of such organiza-
tons in general; and it is probably also true chat
she aims to present types only, and not personal
portraits, in the people whom she draws with
such skill and piquancy. AS usual. however.
where art goes straight to nature for its motive
and material, it is easy for the acquaintance
of the originals to recognize the copies. The
hero of the book, Professor Wolfgang, if a man
can properly be called a hero who is nothing if not
a poet and a philosopher, completely saturated
With OEoece, lacks ilIClc OF Delng an exact Qu-
plicate of Professor Denton j. Snider. Just as
obviously the heroine and really most effective
of the various ladies of the story, Rose Duane is
intended in the main for a certain well-known
lady, daughter of a late congressman, who had
spent a fortune in the cause of education, and it
is no less certain that Mrs. Lauderdale, the
beaming leader of fashion, and social sponsor
of Wolfgang, stands for Mrs. Rs j. Id.
Others of the fictitious personages reveal their
identity as readily to those who are familiar
Npsfh l. 1-xs~~ Q-.--- - A. - - G.
Louis. and of Carondelet, which Is here specified
as Cliff Cave. Some of them will not relish the
candid manner in which their peculiarities are
depicted, it Is to be feared; and, yet Mrs. Blais-
del is apparently SO ~guiltless of malice, SO good
humoredly indulgent. and, on the whole, so en-
PERTAINING, that the victims of her raillery can
not fairly expect to have much sympathy if they
shall permit themselves to take offense in the
case"
The volume, in truth, is engagingly written.
and proves the writer a very entertaining au-
thor. There is a naturalness and dash about it
all that makes what might otherwise prove dull
and Improbable of more than passing interest.
Roberts Brothers, Boston, are republishing
in beautiful form, the works of Balzac, one of
the greatest French writer's. They have
already issued his s'Pere Goriot" and 1.-THE
Duchesse de Langeais," and others will follow.
Not to have read Balzac is not to be acquainted
with French literature of the nineteenth CEN
fury. The publishers may feel sure of an ex-
tended demand for Balzac's works.
Lord Tennyson's new volume, ''Tiresias, and
Other Poems published by Macmillan & Co.,
London, is now On sale by The Bowen-Merrill
Company, Indianapolis, Price, 81. so.
Robert P. Porters new book. made up of his
letters from abroad, describing the industrial
features of Europe, and entitled BREAD Win
ners Abroad" is published by j. S. Ogilvie 6
Co., New York, and for sale by The Bowen
Merrill Company. Indianapolis. Price, ST..
THE INFANT PHILOSOPHER. Stray leaves
from a baby's journal. By F. S. Verdi, M.
D. Fords, Howard & Hubert. New York;
The Bowen-Merrill Company, indianapolis.
Parchment paper; 80 cents.
MARIUs THE EpIcUREAN. His sensations and
ideas. By Walter Pator, NJ. A. Second edi-
ton. Macmillan & Co., London; The Bowen
Merrill Company. indianapolis. Price. 1926
A LUCKY WAIF. A story for mothers, of home
and school life. By Ellen E. Kenyon. Fow-
Ter & Wells Company, New York; The Bowen
Merrill Company, Indianapolis. Price, 81.
RAILROAD TRANsPoRTATIoN-ITs HISTORY AND
ITs LAWS. By Arthur F.. Hadley. g. P.
Putnam's Sons, New York; The Bowen-Mer-
ril Company. Indianapolis. Price, $1.50.
II FLIES. A Reading Diary. By Christine
G. Rossetti. Roberts Bros, Boston; The
Bowen-Merrill Company. Indianapolis. Price,
$1.O0.
SHAKESPEARE. By Caroline Healey Dali.
Roberts Bros, Boston; The Bowen-Merrill
Company, Indianapolis. Price, $l.2 {.