The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-10
INTERESTING BOOKS
Novels in the Library Treating on
European History.
GOOD READING JUST NOW
Rulers of the Time. and Conquests
and Defeats of the Old Days
When Conditions Political
We're Different.
GOOD READING JUST NOW


order to properly educate boy, we
should begin with his grandparents.
on somewhat the same principle, in
our account of historical novels in the
Butte Free Public Library, dealing
with English history, we first mention
Ballantyne's Hot Swamp" a tale OF
old Albion at a period concerning which
we have no historical history" as
Mark Twain would say. Ballantyne's
stories are all juvenile in nature and
are of more than average merit for
style and accuracy.
The first book to be mentioned in the
historical period is "Beric the Briton"
by G. A. Henty. While considerable
of this book is devoted to matters in
Italy, much of value is also given re-
specting life in England during the
time when Nero was emperor OF Rome.
Perhaps the most inviting period of
all English history to the novelist is
that between the time of the departure
of the Romans and the Norman con-
quest. This has furnished many
theme for the poet, reaching its highest
expression In Tennyson's 'Idylls of the
King" But with all it's wealth of fasci-
nation the period has been strangely
neglected by the writer of fiction. The
only novels respecting the period to be
mentioned here are Mrs. Charles Ear
ly Dawn" THE Count of the Saxon
Shore" by Alt. J. Church, THE Dragon
and the Raven" by G.. A. Henty and
''The Securing Of the White Horse" by
Thomas Hughes. To these belong in
spirit, though not exactly in chronol-
ogical order Kingsleys "Hereward."
AS a partial compensation for the few
ness of the titles, the works are all of
more than an ordinary degree of merit.
The story of the Norman conquest IT.
self is treated in Henty's Harold"
The period between the Norman con-
quest and the zenith of the reforma-
tion has suggested the subject for
many of Shakespeares plays. BY many
critics a higher value has been assign
ed to these plays as historical author
ity than they really deserve. 1t is not
belittling his genius to observe that
everywhere and always Shakespeare is
an artist and while many historical in
cidents are adhered to, the spirit of all
and this is the very essence of history
has frequently been distorted to fit
the artistic object Immediately in hand.
But to revert to the different phases
of the long period under consideration,
Scott's "Betrothed" and "Ivanhoe,"
better than any other works depict the
influence of chivalry and the first re-
lations between the Saxons and the
Normans. "Ivanhoe" also introduces
the character of the famous outlaw who
| furnishes the theme for Marsh's Life
and Adventures of Robin Hood" and
| Pyle's Merry Adventures of Robin
| Hood" AS novels dealing with the
| Scottish wars we will mention only
Men of Iron" by Howard Pyle and
| Gagged Lion" by Charlotte NJ. Yonge.
During a large part of the 14th and
| 18th centuries, the dominion of Eng
| land extended over the south and a
large portion of the north of France.
On this account we feel that we should
| include here a number of able stories
| treating of the French wars, and in
Guiding such historic characters as
| Joan of Arc and the brilliant Black
| Prince. The most important novels of
the French wars are the white Com
pany," by A. Conan Doyle. "Agincourt"
| by G. p. r. James, "Lances of Lyn-
wood" by Charlotte NJ Yonge, Joan
the Maid" by Mrs. Charles, and 'St.
| George for England by G.. A. Henty.
Epistles of the Wars of the Roses. the
most terrible period of modern Eng
lish history, furnish subjects for the
"Chantry Priest of Barnet by ALT. ].
Church: the BLACK Arrow by Rob
| Louis Stevenson and Bulwer's Last
of the Barons." AS an historical novel
ist Bulwer is surely at his best, and
great as are his merits in the compo-
sition of Last Days of Pompir' and
"Reenzi," we believe they are greater
in his treatment of Harold" and the
Last of the Barons." The latter de-
picts the character of the great king
maker, and accurately indicates the
greatest social revolution of English
history. 1t combines most of the es-
sential qualities of a great historical
novel, and has many claims for being
considered the greatest of all such
works.
The "Cloister and the Hearth" by
Chas. Reid and "Darnley" by G. p r
James treat of the reformation, anC
q he Nferh nj fe I.
work by Louisa Muhlback, of which
ii will be sufficient to say that in lit
trary style and historical accuracy, 4
is no better than her other works.
"Kenilworth" by many considered
the best of the "Waverly Novels" dis
cribes the most interesting parsonage
of the great Elizabethan age. West
ward Hoi" by Chas. Kingsley deal
with the Spanish Armada. Black
Judith Shakespeare brings in the char
acter of the great dramatist. Tn
voyages of Drake furnish material 70
Cabbett's For God and Cold an,
Henty's Under brakes Flag"
} The period of English history o
which we have the smallest knowledg
is that embraced between the dealt
of Elizabeth and the occasion of viii
liam and Mary. But it is true tina
not only during the commonwealth bu
under the Stuarts the time was file
with great achievements and thos
movements that make the most inter
esting passages in a nations life. Blu
of this period there is much literatur,
and many historical novels of a hig
degree of merit among them. "Fo
Faith and Freedom" by Walter BE
SAINT: "Draytons and the Davenants:
and ION Both Sides Of the Sea-" b
Mrs. Charles; THE Robber' an
e Henry Masterton," by G. p. r. James
\ Lorna Doone." by r. ID. Blackmore
: "Reputed Changeling." by Charlotte
Yonge: Friend olivia" by Mrs. Barr
"St. George and 81. Michael" by {
{ Macdonald; In the Golden Days" b
e | Edna Lyall; When London Burned
= by G. A. Henty; John Milton and III
| Times" by Max Ring; "Peveril of th
X Peak" and Woodstock" by Waite
Scott; Children Of the New Forest
] - -. .-.al.. .-.---a.. ..IAllh the i In