New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-18
LITERARY NOTES.

It would be interesting to know II there Is
to he in the near future translation into
English Of one Of the most important bio
graphical works recently completed. sisnor 80
lerti's Vita di Torquato Tasso" The year
just ended marked the ihree-hundredth anniversary
OF the poets death in tina; convent on the summit OF
the Janiculum at Rome which bears the name OF
San Onofrio. The chamber decorated with relies of
Tasso will be remembered by all visitors to'the In
teresting little convent The custodian shows to this
day the bed. the chair and which were used by
the broken-down poet in his retirement. And that
rude chamber. with its religiousiy preserved SOU
venirs. and its picture Of Tasso painted on the wall
opposite the entrance sums up in It's romantic at
mosphere the whole tendency OF Tssso's nnumerabie
critics and historians One and all. they have had
tusslc with tho facts and the traditions or his me-
Byron aided and abetted them In fixing in the popular
mind sentimental and excessively romantic con-
cepton OF their hero. and Goethe, whose poem shows
often imaginative grasp Of his subject In
creased the glamour the poesy which has hung beau
tfuy but confusingly about the celebrated Italian
Now comes Sgnor Solerti. and in three fine vol
unes proceeds change all this. He has sifted over
and all the data accessible his theme all the
archives in Italy that might yield him new light, all
tho correspondence in which Tasso set forth at var
Gus times his notions about the facts Of his fc his
Imprisonment and all the rest. Our new biographer
takes pains to point the distinctions necessary
TO be drawn between these facts and Tasso's no
tons about them. the poet having been prone TO
Imaginative dealings with the things that happened
TO him. and In the light Of this extensive Vita we
see him as nc actually was There Is no BOOK IN
English which II is possible TO so with quite the
same sense Of satisfaction that Signor Solerti III
spires and version of his book in our own tongue.
abridged if necessary but true to the essential Zines
Of his plan ought to he welcomed by poets. scholars
and tic reading public generally.
There Is to be new edition OF all the late Eugene
Fiea's works In prose and verse. the volumes being
ten In number and being especially printed by De
V.ane from plates on a Geckel-edged paper con-
tcinng, in water mark. the authors initials Inc
edition will be edited by Mr. Fields brother Roswell
IL Field and will contain some new material be-
sides gathering together all the work of any con-
sequence done through the writer's long ana busy
lie. We hope exception will be made however,
Of THE Denver Primer" a work which we believe
some one Mr. Francis Wilson perhaps. has said
Field himself ceased 70 lock upon with much con-
tentment as time went
There is also 10 be published soon. by the same
house the Scribners the last book written by REID
his Love Affairs OF Bibliomaniac." This Is COL
lection Of papers IN which we may expect ~ ma
this sunny and original writer expanding under the
influence Of the theme he loved best OF all. saving
children and their hobbies. He blblomaniac
Of the most maniacal description but his habits ana
feelings and atmosphere generally as reiehtiess
seeker after the one desired volume were always
charming always touched by his spirit Of fun and
froi.c. lie adored old book. good old book, one
with the eanctiy of a photographed past. ana his
Love Affair." ought 20 prove positively impas-
stoned besides being full Of humor. Even when the
trail was hotties; and his bibliomanacal rage was
stirring Field felt the sprite of mischief, OF pure
laughter jogging at his elbow II Is a curious TACT
that according to Mr. Roswell Fields predatory
rote there remained at the time OF the authors
death only one more chapter TO be written. That
was 10 chronicle death of the old bibliomanac
but not until he had Unexpectedly fallen heir to
very rare and almos; priceless copy of Horace
which acquisition marked the pinnacle OF the book
hunters conquest. True 10 his love for the Sabine
finger the Western poet characterized the immortal
odes OF twenty centuries gone the greatest happ-
ness OF blbliomaria'