New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-11
NOVELS OF THE PAST.
GROUP OF NOTABLE REPRINTS.

GROUP OF NOTABLE REPRINTS.
pouaNCEs AND NARRATIVES BY PANEL
DEFOE Edited by George A. Aiken: Ilius ;e
% sa sy viii y Ii New-York: Macmillan Co.
RoP P1GKLE. BY H Tobias smoett. Illustrated BY
George Crukshank VIII! Tbrs sno vou Msn0 New
York: Macmillan x CO.
JApHET IN SEARCH OF A FATHER. BY Cap
tain Marina rrtaoducton BY David Hannay Octave.
New-York: Macmillan Co.
TOM CRINGLEs Log by MiS H;,s scott IT, rd illus
raed by j. A. syM Hrrs oc w,n a" NewYork
Macmillan 4 CO.
ANNALS OF THE PARISH AND THE Ar a,ai
SHIRE LEGATEEs BY John Gait ustra' S1
Iiyfred Anger. octave New-York: Macmillan
& Co.
BUGJARGAL CLLATpPpEE N GTEuXS n TH HaNs sA OF
icEIAND BY Victor Hugo. Two Volumes. DC
tavo Boston: Little Brown Co.
TRII.BY. THE FAIRY OF ARGYLE BY Charles .,
Nodler Translation and Introduction .',ro by ~ H.
Dole octave. Boston; Estes a Laurlat
THE cHouANs AND THE WILD ASSES SKIN
Nv Honore de Balzac Translated by Ellen Mar
rage With Preface and Introduction by G Sot
Saintsbury. Two Volumes. octave NeW-ioth'
Macmillan & Co
rERRAGUs. CHIEF OF THE DEX0RANTS IS The
LAST INCARNATION OF VAGTkiN; by hon iS
pne Prescott wormeley. Octave. PIP. xvi 4Os-
Roston: Roberts Brothers.
Fremont JUNIOR & RIsLER SENIOR. BY Al
phonse Daudet. Translated by Edward Nlzeteny
and Illustrated by George Roux. octave PIP.
3s9 Philadelphia j. b. Lippncott Company
Defoe is pre-eminently a story teller. and the Cd
fec, of his tale while incidentally to instruct Is
mainly to amuse Because Defoe's political career
was distinctly checkered and involved his doing
spvs work at times; because there is frankness
In some of his books which repels, and an editor
is always anxious to prove his subject mpeccable,
II seems necessary to Mr. Aiken that he should ex-
plain away many of the spots on his sun as
nossible One way in which he goes about this Is
n insist that Defoe always wrote as an honorable
man. as one having good intentions and a high NOR
al IDEAL Mr. Aiken with all his editorial virtues
Is still too much aware Of Defoe. the pamphleteer.
and not continuously enough In contact with Defoe
the teller OF tales. As We have said, II Defoe mad
any purpose at ALL 1t was that OF telling sood
story And how he did tell 1t!
IL is Robinson Crusoe who has made us impatient
OF the proofs and dsproofs of this theory
or that which might be banded about these wei
come reprints. The delightful islander speaks, and
with his voice there Is revived not merely boyisn
pleasure In peril and picturesque adventure, but
sense OF the zest the relish which Defoe presents
to every unhurt by that old lunacy OF the pub
lie the fatuous notion that 'Crusoe Is boys
hook alone OF course II Is "A boys book-so Is any
book that is Ineligible and wholesome. And Crnsoe
is both to an extent that makes one hunger Tor
long reach OF sand with the wind In ones face ana
unlimited freedom to shout with the sheer JOY OF
living. A hunger OF this sort is mans quite as
much 1t Is a boys. and II an explanation OF the
source OF 1t in Defoe is sought. 1t is found In just
the veraci,y OF his work. a quality which knows
neither youth age. He writes Of things ne
never saw. but makes you see them and feel them
as II the very breath OF the sea were In your nos
trls and the CLEAN OF the sunshine were In your
eyes.
From first 10 last Robinson Crusoe is convincing
The situati In which he finds himself natural
He extricates himself from every dilemma with a
FEASIBILITY that is irresistible The language Is d-
rect and precise there Is absolutely word paint
ing no attempt to depict scenery with = sensuous