New-York tribune., 1891-12-16
HOLIDAY BOOKS.
PROSE. POETRY AND PICTURES.

PROSE, POETRY AND PICTURES.
It is from tower beside the River Darro, that
stream whose sands Were mixed with gold in the
old time that the traveller obtains one of the best
of all the birdseye views Of Granada. Very ap-
propriately the Christmas reprint of Washington
Irvings "Alhambra,7 published in two volumes
by G. P. Putnams Sons, is called the Darro edi
ton. 1t leaves the romantic side of Irving's
unique and highly colored narrative to speak for
itself but on the side Of fact it amplifies and
assists the authors purpose by series of photo.
graphic plates reproducing the chief courts and
chambers Of the palace of the Moorish kings, as
well as the most famous natural attractions that
lie beneath the shadow of Its walls. The edition
is decorative enough in its white and blue bind
ing and in the arabesques which frame the text
| on every page to please the holiday book buyer !:
while the paper and presswork are of quality
TO satisfy the fastidious collector of any season
Of the year Too much cannot be said in praise
of enterprise of this Sort which enshrines
of the classics of American literature in becoming
and enduring form.
Typographical editions of popular descriptive
poems frequently run the risk of disturbing good
many ideals, for while the poets glorilied PEN
pictures remain, the scenes they describe suffer
the most sweeping changes more often than not
=" The Lady of the Lake" is fortunate in losing
very little by tie modern realistic fashion Of IL
lnstration. 1t celebrates a region whose wild
beauties are still poetic, still as imperceptiby
modified by mans civilizing hand as when Sir
Walter wandered along the margin Of Achray.'
In the Stirling edition of the poem Estes <
LauTlat. there is uncommon harmony preserved be-
tween the text and the Photographic" views which
accompany it. The plate facing page 1885, for
instance, A Pass in the Trossochs," perfectly il
lustrates the lines in the sixth canto:
"Where the rude Trossachs dread defle
Opens on Katrine lake and isle"
Twenty-three other illustrations, of similar fit
ness, are printed in the book and picture Of
Abbotsford is given as frontispiece. The value
Of the edition 10 the student is increased BY care
ful annexation of all the passages to which more
than one reading has been given, and by an ap-
pendiX Of nearly fifty pages devoted to notes
The volume is handsomely bound in white veum
Dean Stanley right when he called West
Minister Abbey the likeness Of the whole English
constitution" and he set himself exactly the
right task when he aimed at making his Hist0ri-
cal Memorials really THE History of England
in Westminster Abbey" In the main his work
accompshes the object of such a history II is
within the limited space of two octave volumes
terse yet sufficient, Of the essential facts
which identify the Abbey with the national life
Of England For a new edition of the Histori-
cal Memorials" A. ID. F. Randolph & Co lave
made use of the same illustrations by Mr. Herbert
Railton which appeared in Mr.. Lofte's book
on the Abbey. Printed on Japanese paper these
give the finishing touch Of beauty TO book which
has already won dignifed position Among works
Of its class.
Mr.. Theodore Child would probably receive
scant mercy for his Art ard Criticism" UIarper
& BrOthers) at the hands of the viz acious critic
who assailed Mr.. Andrew Lang the other day.
and wrote him down "A shrimp" for making
books of his magazine articles. Mr. Childs es-
says have all passed through the periodical press
before reaching their present permanent state
where they have taken the glOries of thick
paper, extra plates for the illustrations. and sub
stantial binding. Yet Mr. Child might fairly turn
upon his critic, for, like Mr. Lang, he and his
books are far from lacking vertebrae The studies
in this volume range from Bottcelli 10 Munllacsv
from the Nike of Sam6thrace 10 Auguste Rodin. but
they are bound together and are given unity by
spirit that makes for right criticism along definite
and Intelligent lines Of taste and judgment Mr.
Chlld has the courage OF his convictions He is
oohNiHCcu bhhJ bHc cTle1 interest OF Allets
work is literary, rather than properly artistic"
and lie is net afraid to say 80. Occasionally the
writer's style degeneraeS into journalese"-in the
essay on MunkacSy there is a piece OF downright
intervlewing-but his standard Of criticism has
been unaffected throughout by any questions of
popularity The book deserves the appreciation of
the cultivated women Of North America" To
whom it is dedicated
Some years ago Victor Tissot, a Frenchman, dis
covered " Unknown Switzerland the Switzerland
where the tourists cease from troubling and all
Nature Is at rest. lie rhapsodized over il in a
quiet way, producing one Of the best books on
Alpine travel in literature. Unknown Switzer-
land the book, has sent many travellers 10
Unknown Switzerland" the country, and has
gained innumerable lovers for itself. For the lat
ter A. d. F. Randolph IL Co. nave published a
special library edition of the book illustrated with
photographs of number of well-chosen scenes
among the Alps. 1t is well printed and attract
lively bound.
The Lily OF the Arno,' by Virginia W. John
son Estes d Lariat) is book on Florence which
sustains through 344 pages the note of enthusiasm
struck in the dedication, which is offered TO the
city itself with admiration Of her beauty
and reverence for the nobility OF her
memories" There is some history in the
book, some anecdote and no end of fancifnl
and suggestive reflection upon the episodes in
modern Forentine life which still recall the grace
and pictWesqueness Of other days All this is