The Portland daily press., 1896-07-01

& Harmon. This book besides the story
whose title is given above, also contain
four others: The Secrets of the Princess
de Cadignan; Unconscious Comedians;
Another Study of Woman; and Comedies
played gratis. These shorter stories of
Balzac, while giving less scope for the
full play of his genius which seems to
delight in large canvas and many fig
ures, are in some respects of more inter-
est than his longer noYels--they show
his manner of working and mastarly
handling of material. They are like the
hasty sketches of great artists, where
freedom ana breadth are conspicuous
qualities, and the strength is shown in
tho mapping out rather than in detail
or color. So much has been said of late
Of Balzac's literary style and work, of
the variety and scope of his genius, of
the place he fills among the other great
writer's of the nineteenth century, that
little remains to be said at all new or
interes ting. 1t is enough to say that he
stands among the wor Ids great novelsts
aud that nothing he has written ia un-
important or valueless. The American
public owes gread deal to Katherine
Prescott Wormley who has done her work
SO we'll that the novels lose little in the
translation.
Alice de Beaurepaire. A Romance of
Napoleon. Unabridged Translation from
~. .,oI To- n n
with the fateful Goth of March, 1911,
when after the manner of the first Frank
ish Kings. Napoleon held alofr in his
arms lin this case from the balcony of
the Tuileries) his new born son, to re-
oeive the shouts and CALCULATIONS of the
assembled throng. Intrigue, personal
and POLITICAL of course compose this ro-
nance. which is spirited and dashing.
In it's pages Madame Sans-Gene has her
place. s'Lefebre and his wife, La Sans
Gene, had no genealogical portraits to
show-their patents Of mobility were
fought; they wero not descendants, they
were ancestors" What would literature
be with out the French Revolution, it's
approach, and its after effects? Ger
tainly it would be shorne of unrivaled
tenor and excitement on the one hand
and of its most historically instructive
epoch on the other. This volume is one
of many on this theme which form a
library in and of themselves. (Bostob ::
Charles Il. Brown & Company; Port
land: Loring, Short & Harmon.)
Briseis. A Novel by William Black,
author of A Princess of Thule, etc.. etc.
Illustrated by w. T. Smedley. 1t is a
relief to do away with that much abused
word Strong" in reviewing Mr.. Blacks
new novel 'Briseis" for there are other
terms Ethat better indicate its calibre.
Some Scotch words as bonny and canny
or our own English adjectives, bright
and sweet. The lovers in this story are
certainly sundered when one is living a
life of drudgery and poverty in London
and the other is betrothed to someone not
his real sweetheart at all, and this very
fact excites interest. Then il the episode
of matchmaking in the Glands of an I'M
natural Greek youth be somewhat impos-
ible, on the other hand life in the Aber-
deenshire hills as lived by Briseis and
her old uncle and again, English country
life amongst the fashiOnables are given
with the greatest reality and charm.
"Briseis' is wholesome, readable and
winnings one might almost say loyea-
BILE sort of book, full of we'll drawn per-
sonalities. Of the old botanist so given
to his beloved science and 80 heartlessly
treated by a thoughtless trick Of some
youngsters who sowed seed to make him
believe the 'Silene alpestris" grew wild
on Soulter Hill, we read, "OId John
Elliott had quietly passed away, and was
now free from all earthly cares and
wrongs And perhaps-who knows p
there may b. rare plants to be sought for
among the loveller OF the high hills of
Heaven" The story is certainly varied
III its dramatic personae for we have our
English and Scotch friends, with the
Prince and Princess of Monteveltro and
the diplo matis representatives of many
other nations not emitting the appear
ance of most repellant representative OF
the new woman in literature and society.
We cordially recommend ''Briseis'' for
a vacation volume to BIZ taken with one
to the mountains or the shore. New
York: Harper & Brothers; Portland:
Loring, Short IL Harmon. Price 1907