The Portland daily press., 1890-11-29
CoNCERNINc BOOKS.
BY E. CAvAzZA.

Fra Lippo Lippi. By Margaret We're Far
rington. One of the most elegantly arrayed
of the holiday volumes is this romance,
which has as its theme the loves of the
scapegrace painter-monk, Lippo Lippi and
the gentle novice, Lucrezia Butt. This story,
which has remained in records vivid as in
complete, is gracefully combined with de- |
tails Of Tuscan life in the period of the Re- |
naissance, and is cleverly managed by Miss
Harrington. For instance, legend relates,
but history finds insuf6cently supported,
that Fra Lippo Lippi was poisoned by rela-
tive of Lucrezia. Miss Harrington very per-
missibly imsgnes this relative to have been
a woman, the Princess Beatrice, and the mo-
tive of revenge her sighted love for Lippi
instead of resentment for the stealing away
of the novice from the convent. The style of
the romance gives evidence of promising tai
emit as well as of much reading of authorities
upon the history of art and manners of the
Renaissance. Miss FaIrington's work shows
the fresh life and the large ambition of
youth, the commendable eagerness to know
and to attain which is in itself a force. and
which. If 1t shall prove apt to receive disci-
pine, will ensure success. As yet, 1t Is not
possible to decide upon the intrinsic value of
her talent; the remote themes of Arthurian
legends and lives Of Renaissance painters
must depend for their treatment too much
upon literary authorities and models to rep
resent accurately the original gifts of this
young girl of New England. Meanwhile she
writes with interest and sentiment. telling
her story with effect. Some errors should
be corrected in another edition of the book:
the convent, where Lucrezia Butt dwelled,
was called Santa Margherita. not Margharita
Miss Harrington must learn to spell cor
rect'y even in Italian her own beautiful
name. And senor-repeatedly given as
title to the pers0nages of this romance, is a
Spanish word, for which the Italian equiva-
lent is sign0r. Certain other errors In the
Italian-a language which. it must be con.
fessed, closes like sensitive plant at the
touch of fingers at all inexpert-may per-
haps be those of the proof-reader. who can
not be expected to be critical linguist in
every foreign speech. These slight blem-
ishes, however, need not trouble the reader,
transported from the Northern winter to
Tuscan springtime by these pages Astounding
in youthful enthusiasm and in the charm
that is felt when young writer plays with
tragedy, half compromising and wholly
enjoying its pathos and shadow. Fra Lippo
Lippi is elegantly printed and bound, and
illustrated by excellent photographers, in
GLIDING copies from famous Italian masters
and also from charming sketch of the Alb
bess Margherita, by Miss Alice Emmett.
fNam VorH n pufp
land: Loring, Short & Harmon. Price
$3.50.
A Sisters Love. BY W. Heimourg. This
popular German author excels in pictures of
the home and social life of her country, and
is already represented in America by various
translated novels. Miss Margaret Water
man, whose name is pleasantly familiar in
Portland society, has given one of the most
spirited and graceful of these translations in
this story of A Sisters Love. 1t is piquant
romance, with clever characterizations the
austere but devoted Anna Maria whose
sisterly love watches so jealousy over the
welfare Of her brother Klaus, contrasts with
the spirited, changea lie little Susanna, al
ways wrong and yet not altogether unlove-
able. Annie Maria, too, has her romance
of which the warm influence mellows her
crude nature. The illustrations in photo
gravure represent personages and costumes of
generation ago. The tailor-made exquis-
iteness of today will smile at the large hat
with feathers, the loose hair and wide white
lace collar of the fraulein on horseback who
ad0rns the paper cover of the attractive vol
ume. New York: Worthington and Co.:
Portland: Stevens 6 Jones). Price, rs cents.
Two Modern Women. By Kate Gaunett
Wells. These feminine types would hardly
have been imagined outside the Modern
Athens, and the tone and idiom of their
conversation is curiously transcendental
aud stilted. One, Ruth Aften, is a minister:
and the other, Freia Krumm, a lecturer of
socialist tendencies. Miss Aften is rescued
from drifting boat off Campobello, by the
hero, son Of a subtly analytical and self
tormenting mamma, who wishes to remain
his sole alteration. Naturally, a romance
ensues; but Miss Aften believes family life
inconsistent with her ministerial usefulness;
and, admitting her love, declines her lover.
Frea Krumm makes happier decision in
her own case. 1t is not quite easy to un-
derstand the purpose and direction of Mrs.
Wells's novel; 1t appears to be medium for
the expression of her thoughts and convic-
tions upon many topics, social and religious.
The novel reader will care little for it as a
story; but it is impossible to neglect appre-
citation of the earnestness and good will of
its author. philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott;
Portland: Loring, Short & Harmony Price
$1.25.
Crowded out o. Crowded. By William O.
Stoddard. The experienced buyer of juve-
nile books for the holidays will know that
Mr.. Stoddard's name on the cover Of a story
book for boys. means honest lun and practi-
cal good sense. 1t was Jack Ogden who was
crowded out O. Crofield, and made his way
to New York, followed by the emulous SYM
pathy of his bright sister Molly, who. for her
part, staid at home and succeeded well, too,
by means of the same qualities. The life of
a country boy In New York, with its search
for EN- loyment, its disappointments, Its
successes due to prompt and intelligent work,
is thoroughly ard not too fiatteringy de-
picted. The influence of the story will be to
send the right boys out into the great world,
and keep at home those who are better fitted
for the opportunities that are not lacking in
the quietest country places. The story
aoounds In interesting episodes, where
jacks good sense and dash, and Molly's
girlish presence of mind save the situation.
Inc volume is handsomely bound in dark
green with silver ornamentation, and illus
trated by spirited sketches. New York: D.
appleton q Co; Portland: Loring, Short &
Harmon.