The herald., 1894-11-18

1t is noticeable that all the leading
novels of the year--:o go on further
back-are from British authors. like
The Manxman OF Mr.. Caine, Trilby by
Du Maurier, Lord Ormont and His Am
ruta by George Meredith, and Marcella
by Mrs. Humphrey Ward. More be-
sides these will be readily recalled by
all who keep up with the new books, but
all-literally all the notable novele of the
asst year or more have had their birth
abroad. This, it is now being under"
ltood and admitted, is mainly because
OF the slow and thorough working habit
of the English writer. We do little that
ie great because we do 30 much. No man
or woman can write great book as often
as the American author turns out his
volumes. Let US not despair. but de-
xand that higher standard that only
comes OF more patient work.
x*x
TRILBY. A novel; by GEORGE DU MAURER,
author of Peter Ihbetson with l2o 'llustra-
tions By the author Post syo, cloth; Fn- or.
sale by Stoll & Thayer
1t is very late in the day to try to add
enything to the mass OF criticism of this
book, which ia now going on toward the
hundredth thousand. The difficulty is
not so much as to the place the book
ought to hold in current literature, for
that is substantially settled; but as to
the permanent place Du Maurier will in
the future hold as to his fellows. In
England there does not appear to have
been yet awakened any great popular
interest in the book-at least euch as
has arisen here-and yet the more thors
oughgoing critics are having their turn.
As the HERALD has already had its say
we can do the reader no better service
than by producing this from the Book
Buyer.
.'Trilby herself, the protagoniet of
the drama, is drawn with touch OF
truly New Testament lovliness, and per-
bsps the triumph of a book that is itself
m incontestible triumph, is the suc-
cessul way in which Mr.. Du Maurier
has installed Trilby in the hearts of the
strictest and strsitest. He has made
the breast of the Pharisee glow with
warmth for the child of the publican,
and given ell his readers a glimpse
hardly, perhaps. OF mans normal life
as we shall one day know it, but GER
tainlv of sentiments that will form an
important element of such life. And
when one considers the fact that he has
blinked nothing in the circumstances OF
his heroine--a model posing for the al
together as che says-his capture of
the Philistine is seen to be very notable
indeed. Was there ever anything
cleverer than Trilby's letter to the
Laird? Who can, after it, seriously
moan over the bondage OF the English
novel to she young person? The young
PERSONS reply must be: "Be clever
enough, and reassure me as TO your
hearts being in the right place, and
take carte Blanche
The literary question intrudes itself,
however, whether ia the aforesaid pro-
cess OF reinsurance Mr. Du Maurier has
not blinked good deal in the character
OF his heroine, whose record he is 20
frank about. Thackeray occurs to ev-
eryone in reading Trilby. Would Thack-
cray have drawn Trilby herself as Mr..
Du Maurier has done? Would he have
made her so simple, so little complicated.
30 entirely of the kingdom of heaven
Edmond Scherer distinguishes George
Eliot, for whom he had foreigners en-
thusiaem, as novelist of character,
from Thackeray as q novelist of man.
ners-which is, one may remark paren-
theticRlly, an instance of what the
French call du toupet, Thaokeray being
certainly a novelist not less OF character
than OF manners. But is Trilpy, which
is clearly delightful novel Of manners,
ms conspicuouely success ee novel of
character? The author OF q novel OF
manners is bound to be uncompr mising
and thoroughgoing in the characters
which illustrate them. Trilby, in q
word, is artisticelly bound to bs as typ
ical as her environment.
Perhaps she is, after all. Any ques-
sion Of the kind sa to so charming g
creation seems psdantry; and one may
easily cay that the author has subtly
aud satisfactorily, as well 0s gracefully,
lifted her out of the real and actual
world by his introduction OF Svengali
and his hypnotism. This ia power and
originality of the first water, at all
events. II in 10 years, when "Trilby"
takes its place on the shelf in the neigh
borhood OF Thackeray-as it will, in
virtue OF Its charm, its flavor, its quality
OF attaching and interesting in every
psragraph-whether Trilby will seem to
be the masterpiece she now does or not,
10 is certain that Svengali will.
~
APRODIGAL IN LOVE, by EMMA WOLF; Har-
per & Bros. For sale by StOll g. Thayer.
This is a California story, the scene
being laid in San Francisco. Many near
points OF interest to the Bay city are
brought out with great distinctness, and
the lively social phases of that cosmo-
politan town are made to chow to ad-
vantage.
After reading, as we did several years
ago. with an interest amounting almoBt
to awe, the eolemn claim made by Joa-
quin Miller, that California girls and
women are peculiarly quiet and little
inclined to talk, that "the golden silence
OF this golden land is on her lips for
ever" we were not little surprised to
find that all of the women in this book
appear to have the limberest sort OF
tongues. They start at any moment,
without first warming up, and the ma.
ehinery never stops on the center.
1t is love story of the most intense
sort, literally prodigal of love at every
point and turn, as if to the principal
actors there had appeared a new glow
In every Sausslito sunset; and yet the
story is pumping we'll not greatly
forced, and it is not unwholesome or
questionable in tone. And one likes
here to quote the fine saving Of Emer-
son: There can be no excess to love
none to knowledge none to beauty,
when these attributes are considered in
heir purest sense.
80
THE CONGRESS OF REPRESENTATIVE
WOMEN, edited by MAY WRIGHT sEwALL;
RAND, McNally q Co., Chicago.