New-York tribune., 1896-12-10

Illustrated. In Three. Volumes. pp 2sl' 2s' Zs''
Boston: The Joseph knight Company
s1NTRAM AND HIS COMPANIONS. AND UN-
DINE BY DE La Motto Fouque with nan an IN
PRODUCTION by Charlotte NJ Yonge ana d I,ius.ra 81 a.
tons by Gordon Browne. octave PIP -'' r' 4"
J. b. Young Co.
CARMEN By Prosper Merimee. Translated and
illustrated by Edmund II. Garrett With With, a
Memoir Of the Author by Louise ,, prng im1geS 1%es o
IN OLE VIRGINIA. BY Thomas Nelson Page
1lustra ,ed by W. T. Smedley. B. W; Clinedins
G. S. Reinhart A. Il. Frost. Howard Pyle and, ana A.
Castagne. Octave. PIP. 275 Charles scrioher
STORIES AND LEGENDS FROM WASHINGTOIS, :,
IRVING. Illustrated octave. PIP. aZ. u T.
Putnam's Sons
MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF OUR OWN Land
Volumes Octave. PIP. sls. 3si Philadelphia
j. B. Lippncott Company.
r1REsIDE STORIES OLD AND NEW. Collected
by Henry T Coates. In Three Volumes Octa.o ,o.
ID. 354 S49 S59. Philadelphia: Henry 1. coates
& CO.
HISTORICAL TALES: GREEK-RoMANE; a.. BY BY
pp 3ss, $40. Philadelphia: j. b. L'pp'hco'' Oo"''
pany.
classical fiction. and even fiction which Is NOT
classical, would seem to have perenniaiiy the
strongest hold upon that special fund OF literary
sympathy which wakes in the puolic al the
holiday time. With the approach OF CHRISTMAS
II IA necessary TO record the appearance OF many
miscellaneous gift books. but taken aitogelher
thew hardly equal in number the volumes OF re-
nrinted romance which are published every De-
cember. It is a testimony to the serious interest
.aLer IN these reprints that they are on the
,rbo,e we'll made and often reach In their typo
oronb;cal and artistic excellence the level or
edt,ons brought out in the more leisurey times
Of publication. The list given above 1or eA-
ounle includes some first rate illustrations OF
good editing and presswork.
In the van comes Thackeray's "Esmond," in
. comelv octave for which Mr.. T. H. Robinson
has made some charmingly sympathetic pictures
"a % which Mr.. Joseph Jacobs has prefxed an
equally tactful introduction Preface ana 'ius-
.ra+ions have been most dscreetly even rever-
emily made but both writer and artist nave
heen ouick to respond TO the frank. free spirit
of "Esmond" and the result Is a volume wnlch
at every point Is in harmony with InacKerav
feeling We have previously chronicled the pup
ucation Of another handsome Christmas euiuoh
of "Esmond." but this one Is just as weicofhe,
and Others II they are as good. Will be received
with the same greetings for the reason that one
connot have too many copies Of this fawless
romance. It's spell never Is diminished; no one
has ever touched quite the note which 1hach-
erav touches within its supremely we'll written
napes II is one of the worlds incomparapie
masterpieces and the more widely circulated II
ia the better off will the reading race be.
The new edition Of Jane Eyre arrives aptiy
az this time when Mr. Shorters book on Char-
,otte Bronte has revived interest In her WORKS
vet II requires no adventitious aid In It's appear
to the public. The novel has far less charm
than "Esmond," but in sheer power ana IN hu-
man poignancy 1t Is also one or the VICTORIAN
classics and the dedication to ThacKeray see'hs
peculiarly natural and right. 1t sprang from
a genius akin to his own in rectitude OF ann anu
depth of tenderness The present reprint 10
beautifully put forth on attractive paper be-
tween particularly tasteful boards. Mr. Town
sends sketches are not quite adequate, but they
90 M, apgressivc either In character or num-
hers and the book will take position In the
most self respecting libraries
,,r Townsend has exer:.s,d his pen with
about the same moderate success IN the ne"
edition of THE Kings own" and Mr.. II. Il.
Miilar provides similar drawings for the com
nanon reprint of THE Phantom Ship" Both OF
these volumes are introduced by rev pages Oh
good text from the pen of Mr.. David Hannay'
who knows Marryat we'll and writes Of him In a
refreshjng yein The celebrated sea novelist IS
remembered less frequently than some OF his
romancing contemporaries but when he Is taken
IN with sympathy he somehow proves one OF
the most captivating writer's of his time he mas
so much brisk movement so much lively huhor'
40 evident a liking for his theme. that MS ardor
communicates itself to the reader and the latter
&c becuiled through the slightly old-fashioned
stories with as much Willingness as though he
were perusing the very latest novel
There Is a curious sensation experienced in
nassing from Marryats invigorating pages 10
the heated atmosphere of Ouida. Perhaps II IS
more lust TO make the transition by way or the
new edition Of 1.-TWO Little Wooden Shoes than
nv that Of Under Two Flags" Nevertheless
the first book is characteristic OF an impulse less
familiar TO students Of this writer than the one
IN which we owe the novel 10 which reference Is
made In the shorter narrative we nave Nine.
de la Rame abandoning herself to the more or
less lyrical mood in which at long intervals she
6rds a Measure which she transfers to her pub
lie Under Two Flags represents her more
natural habit. 1t has the certain strength which
belongs to all its fiord fellows. but the tone Is
forced as it always is and the colors are laid on
with a brush too generously charged for the pro-
duction of that kind Of picture which Is most ac-
ceptable in holiday literature. 1t should be
added that in both these editions the publishers
have given their author an engaging dress. the
manufacture of the books being In admirable
taste.
In the present group of reissued romances the
English lead especially by virtue Of the few
commanding books to which reference Is first
made above but numerically the continental au-
thors are about as imposing. Dumas. as usual
receives ample attention his "Chevaer de
Maison- Rouge" appearing in beautiful volume
with artistic illustrations. The tale Is brimming
over with his ebullient spirits and the pictur-
esque vigor Of the nari ative has been cleverly
reproduced by the translator We are aware OF
q certain informally in touching at this point
upon the Mary Stuart Of the same author and
his singular collection of Celebrated Crimes "