New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-13
NEW BOOKS.
MR. TRAILS SOCIAL ENGLAND - DEAN
SrANLEY,S LIrE-MEAIcIRS OF THE DUKE
OF CLARENCE, OF MIR. LELAND,
AND OF BURTON-THE CAM
FRIDGE SHAKESPEARE


science literature industry. commerce ana
manners. from the earliest times to the pres
ent day. The prospect of reaching the
present day seems remote. the first volume Oh
$50 pages coming down no later than Edward
the First 1t is not said how many volumes
there are to be- but If the first, beginning with
1.-THE earliest times" comprises little more
than 200 years after the Conquest the scare
and the size of the completed work must DC
prodigious
Mr. Humphry Ward working on not dissimilar
lines, filled two thick octave volumes with the
"Reign of Queen Victoria" alone; rightly en-
titling 1t a survey of fifty years OF progress
He, like Mr.. Trail filed n great part OF his
book with contributions by others. Sir "iliiam
Arson. Lord Woseley. Lord Bowen Mr. Court
rey Sir Henry Maine, Matthew Arnold ana
Professor Huxley. were among Mr.. WARDS
writer's Mr. Trail can boast of no such list
as that Most Of his collabcrators are Uni
yersity men, known no doubt. in their UNIVERSE
ties not known to the general reading pubic
They are ALL / presume. competent specialists
and in the early part of such work as 'his
competent specialists are wanted
Mr.. Trail himself is not so much a specialist
az q man who has taken many branches of
literature to be his province bellies lettres most
of ALL but with basis of serious knowledge.
He or his publishers, Messrs. Cassell. have cast
wide net The student and the ordinary
reader"-that patient beast of many purdens-
have been kept steadily in view. The book
is to supply the ordinary reader in search of
general information with just what he wants;
and the student or specialist in each subject
with just what he wants II anybody can
drive this double team in harness. ii is MI
Traill / should imagine nevertheless that Mr..
Trails easy methods and light touch, and
power Of making dry subjects less dry would
be better seen in later volumes He may be
destined to supply what has always been want
ing. a good book on England. which should be,
on the one hand, something more than
sketch and, the other, much less than an
assemblage of treatises on particular topics
which the reader himself has to bring into
harmony and due relation. Mr.. Escotts
England" might have been such book had
Mr. Escott been content to devote his whole !
energy TO 1t. But he would not. He spoilt
his book and spoilt his life by attempting |
too much.
The Life and Correspondence of Arthur Pen
rhyn Stanley, late Dean of Westminster" which |
heads Mr.. Murrays list of announcements,
ought to be a good and something more than
a good. book Expectation must however. be
content to rest on the merits Of the subject
biographer to whom it has been intrusted. The
biographer is Mr.. Richard E. Prothero Bar
rister-at-Law. late Fellow of All Souls. Oxford.
As If to inspire further confidence. it is added
that his work is to be done with the co-opera-
ton and sanction of the Very Rev. G. G. Brad
ley. the present Dean of Westminster. 1t
may be open question what degree Of con-
fidence will accrue from the sanction Of Dean
Bradley He holds most dignified position in
the Church, but his emnence is certainly far
more ecclesiastical than literary. At one time
it understood and think announced. that
Dean Bradley was himself to do the Memoir of
his predecessor. He has published lectures on
Ecclesiastes and on Job, but those have no
necessary relation to literature.
A book about Dean Stanley might, in one
sense. write itself; in another it would require
the most delicate handling. His letters must
themselves be an autobiography, if the great
body of them be like the few have seen. The
day of letter-writing was not then over; nor is
it yet. though the fashion is to say So nor is
IL likely to be. How otherwise than by letters
two friends who live apart to continue that
communion of souls wherein true friendship con-
sists largely? There will always be men |
who must pour out their emotions and aspira
tons; who must express in som, form their
spiritual and intellectual struggles and life
often it will be by letter. and often, also, must
letters Of lighter kind be exchanged. In
Dean Stanley's case there are excellent and
numerous examples of both
1t may not at first sight be quite evident
why there should be "a Memoir of H. r. H. the
late Duke of Clarence or why it should be
published. Such a work is, nevertheless, adj
vertised by Mr.. Murray forthcoming a
phrase which may mean anything 1t is to be
written with the sanction of the Prince of
Wales by Mr.. James Edmund Vincent name
new / think to literature. and there are to be
portraits and illustrations. There was of
course. very little in the life of this young
Prince which can have permanent interest, ex-
cept to his family. 1t was. most of all. the I'M
timeliness of his fate which made him inter-
estng. and excited general sympathy.
There is. however, in this country. an audience
for whatever concerns royalty. There are many
houses in which such book will be seen; espe-
cialy those where the Duke of Clarenc, was
never seen. There will be many voices to ex-
claim: The poor, dear Prince; have you read :
this charming book about him?"-voces which,
he in life had never heard. Loyalty which is
in itself respectable emotion, takes on many /
queer forms and even when it is sincere as il
very often is, lends itself to many Alterations Il
quaintance with the royal family. and Of a
deep personal concern in the fate Of a young
man who was heir presumptive to the Throne
In succession to his father, who is heir apparent
II is. possibly enough. in such affectations and
that the publisher puts his trust:
In these, and, also. in feelings OF a more credit n
able and genuine kind 81
Mr. Charles G. Leand's Memoirs may be q
reckt red among the photographed successes s.
of the day. and there are. perhaps no successes "
more frequent numerous than among books 1
Of this class. II is the day Of "reminiscences and
of personalities. and the appetite Of the public
Toes not pail. 1t is AS true Of France as of Eng
and. and apparently true of America as Of
.ither. Mr.. Lelands experiences We're ont NJ tho