New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-04
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
A TRUE REALIST.

TIE HOUSE BY THE MEDLARTREE: ny GiSy'
ami Verga The translation by Mary A.. Crag'
An Introduction by ". ID. Howells 16mo. PIP ooo'
Harper Brothers
This story BY Giovanni Verga Is piece OF realism
which would have delighted Balzacs heart; for 1t IS
in the direct line Of that true presentation OF human
Life Of which he was the unapprOachable master ana
II is far removed from the pseudO-reallsm whch has
cropped up since his time like unwhoesome fungus
The distinction between the true and the false realism
has, however, been often lost sight OF that IL Is
pever superuous to call attention to and define IT,
In tho false realism the cult Of the commonplace or
the ugly OF the foul is put before all elsc Ihec
3 an afectation of avoiding what are called strong
Mutations and manifestations OF passion ana every
thing dramatic, intense and emotional. Cnoer tI'o
pretence Of showing life as 1t Is, the dunest OF ''e
most repulsve aspects Of life are singled OUT ana
dwelt upon and the minute detail OF cataloguer Is
thought 10 be proof Of scientifically analytic grasp.
In this class Of stories the real significance OF life and
human association arc rs a rule completely missed.
The aim OF the writer's seems to be dead level OF
duness at the best and at the worst an equally DEAD
leyel of basencss To know what true realism Is on
tho other hand It Is only necessary to examine this
story Of Vergas. for 1t Is masterpiece OF It's And'
and its kind Is unhapplly rare
We have here perfectly simple chronicle Of tho
fortunes of family Of Italian fishermen. and fills
naturally. and necessarily, includes history OF
the village this family inhabts. Nothing can be moro
inartifcial In appearance than the structure OF the
tale and herein is the refinement of its art mani
tested. One does not need to be familiar with the
HE Of italian coast Mmlets to be certain that the
mirror is held up to nature in these PAGES Tho
homey conversation of the villagers, the description
Of their habits and opinions. the pictures OF the
various little cliques and COT rcs into winch theE
yeparate, the character Of their gossip tile thhes
which interest and ab>r.D tfem-every touch IN al
this IL so true to humanity everywhere that It's fat
fulness cannot be suspected. Lut SgnOr Nerga has
not fallen into the error Of the pseudorasts, III
supposng that realism begins and ends witl common
things. His picture of humble lie Ill the h'le Viiaee
of Trezza is but the scene upon which the drama VI
the House by the McdarTree' IS ehaeteu anu III
that drama the interests high. intense ana ao-
sorbing As in any OF the tragedies of human life when
mark tile great struggle for existence Throughout e'0
world The art of the author is shown III the III
yestment Of relatively small agencies ana 'hieS VIII
the same interest that attaches TO the h>r! vi s'
md influential houses and lives lhc uta'''e" "a
the Melavogo indeed not out OF the coi''" way
including accidents by the sea- deaths di>appoht
ments acts of folly vice. pcrvcrses. injuries suS
tanned from greedy envous companions anu "'i
tho MANY small disasters and failures wluch so "a
make I'D what men call "a Iun Of il!uck. bu' "o
effect the cumulative result of all these petty OF o'
fatal nisfortunes, is anything but pretty ~ - Wv
extinction of an old and respectable house. the Oe""
ing Of hearts, the ruin of lives the sacrhce u "'''
Of energies and hopes and efforts
PERHAPS there is no human life. however "o'c"re'
or however monotonousy passed. to outward appear
.nce which, could it be shown forth wholly ana I'M
reseryedy would not reveal some powerful coiVnSioh'
some period OF agony passion. The Ire Oh A'S
FAMILY faithfully recorded. is in the same way
miniature of society, and the artist who secs clearly
and who recognizes fully the Importance and tn, III
cidence of emotion in all life can MAKE Vi s'''"
material drama fraught with every stimulus 10 IN
terest and attraction. such artist, however, VIII
no. hastily conclude that iltcracy and vnicari'S'
Ignorance and stupidity. inSeparabc lie Will be
Quick TO perceive and 10 make the most OF that racy
,nother-wit that home!y quaintncss and philosophy
which so often render the thoughts ana EXPRESSIONS oi
the peasant peculiarly pquant and NvelN
The charm and power OF this admirable novel are
greatly enhanced By the authors STYLE Which ha'
cen adapted 10 his subject with marvellous SIKH ana
subtlety lie tells the story exactly In the manner
OF an intelligent villag"r. One may imagine him relat-
ing II In cafe to appreclatve group Of cronics
The book Is full Of homcly little touches, and they ana
wonderfully to its and it, realism Mr. lowellS
I'm his Introduction, praises it As "one OF the most
nerfect pieces OF literature that / know That.
certainly is saying much. and perhaps too much
Sicnor Vcrga's story Is. however. almost beyond
question one of tie clevcres, and trueN; Of modern
novel;, and we'll deserving OF careful study bv those
writer's who while they think Themselves the apostles
of new art of fiction show too often by Their works
that they have everything to learn and nearly ever
ching from the artist, now dead and gone whose
methods they affect to scorn.