Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-07-28
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

A LIBRARY or AMERICAN LIrERA AZURE. f oa
1HE EARLIEsT SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT
TDE. Compiled and edited by Edmund
Clarence stedman and Ellen Nackay Hutch
inson. Eew York Charles L. Webster d coz
paGy. Royal octave, ten volUmes.
We have devoted the time, and made
comparisons, that justiiies us in lheconclu-
sion that if the ten volumes of this work
are uniformly up 10 the standard OF the
four already issued, they viii constitute the
most elaborate and by all Odds the most
satisfactory collection of the best examples
OF American literature, illustrating
its genesis and growth, ever
put from the press. The scheme or method
of work is dissimilar from that Of any
other of the many volumes that have been
devoted to the subject. We are quite salts
fed of the entire justice of the claim of It's
projectors that it nils a vacant field, since
no other work of this character has been
projected upon so broad plan, or has at
tempted 10 cover all the ground occupied in
giving us examples of our literature upon
which to base estimates OF its character.
We should say that it will prove popular
work, becaGseitis not treatise upon styles
but an exhaustive collection of the best ex-
amples of American literature in all stages
of its development. Most previous
books dedicated to the exposition of
the history of our liter iture have
like that by Richardson, which is
among the latest and best. been
treatises mainly, and while the methods of
all have been more or less meritorious-
and we know of none that are weak-the
volumes how before us are the strongest
most comprehensive, and come the nearest
to being exhaustive Richardson, for in
stance, in two volumes successfully grap-
pied with the difficult task of estimating
the rank and Analysing the works of
American authors. Ii WAS critical labor
and faithful. and, in the man. correct an
alysis But it needs the supplemental work
o. Stedman and Hutchinson to enable the
student of American literature 10 form
his own judgment. For it will be scarcely
claimed that more than a very few can
possibly engage the time or means to ex-
anime in detail ell authors related to our
literature between, say, the beginning of
the seventeenth century and the present
time. But the work before US will enable
any average reader 10 examine examples of
all writing during two centuries at all
worthy % be clGssed in American litera-
ture. These carefully selected and charac-
teristic examples of ihe literature of this
country are not accompanied by COM
mentary, for the editors have not attempted
to enter the field of criticism or COM
parison. But they have made ii posi-
bic to add to the Libraries of the
homes OF the country some five or six
thousand large and beautifully. printed
pages that enshrine the best literature of
every era of our history. Thus n knoyl-
edge of American literature may be gained
by survey of its whole field, that would
else be impossible TO the majority of rea l.
ers. Ii is therefore not q history in The
sense that It reciteS events or draws paral-
lels or traces the causes that lead up to
events. Bat it does give distinctive read.
able examples of the writings of every
class aud of each successive period. it
fills much the place in literature that
portfolio containing the best examples
OF the art would occupy III that realm
in short, 1t rs a gallery of literature. as
the other would be a gallery of art.
The volumes of Mr.. Stedman present the
most noteworthy specimens of prose and
verse which, though anonymous, possess
literary merit giving them independent
va ne, and serve purpose in illustrating
the thought and literary purpose of eras.
So, too, it is good judgment that places in
this library very many State papers. and
the utteranoes eff men who have left their
political mark upon the history of the age
The compilation goes even tosthe extent of
introducing such tales and sketches as
AAiuobtoAC ldStt da2L the StHlHS
of fiction that have found acceptsnce with
the American public. The work is sub
jected to division into +eras. as
early and later colonial literature.
the first covering re period from
1907 TO 1879. and the after freq, 1876 10
1894 The literature Of the revolutionary
period-1765 to tTS7-introduces KS TO the
speeches and writings of patriots snd the
founders of cur system of government. and
the notifications OF laws that give rs the
codes of American Jurisprudence of to-day.
What may be termed the period of lI,eri-
can oratory, from ISl2 TO 1855. is acco-3ed
extended space, and includes also the
school of fiction, in the foreground of which
Cooper and Irving ere .proninen' and elso
the better period of American poetry in
Which Bryant, Dana, Brake and HaiIeck
Eputished. We are promised in the last
nAe volumes Illustrative exposition of the
period OF creative literature of the RepGk
lie, which gives Us examples of
The genius of such as Emerson
Longfeliow, Bancroft, Motley. Hag-
thorIe and Lowell. This, also, includes
the most modern of American literature.
The verse, essay. oratory and fiction of the
period oi the was of the Rebellion. The
Whole reid OF American authorship, states
manship and oratory is thus covered. If
is prooa5le that the work will meet the
criticism that will spring from ,diyereence
OF Judgnlset and taste as TO what are fittest
examples. We found not few places in
which We are compelled by onr own judg-
ment to say that it would have mede d,s
ferent selections. But the fac, is recoa-
nized that no editing would be possible
that would not be exposed to pre-
c;sely similar criticism from hundreds
of directions. As whole, We look
upen his collection with its his
torieal and biographical notations at the !
heads of divisions and selections IS au in
accompaniment to the several |
reatisea that have preceded it. Crossing !
he field of none OF these. but presenting |
literary panorama illustrative of them all,
md by which. without the aid of great |
library, the reader may test the commenta-
les CT the former. and form more salts
actory judgment of the rank of the pro-
uc,s OF American authorship compared