The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-29
BOOKS OF VALUE.
Captain Mahan's "Life of Nelson"-No'es
of New Publications In Several Lines.


the outbreak of the French revolution. the
awful 'g3, his life was only typical OF the
average young British naval Oincer but
from that date TO 1908 Great britain was
pretty steadily engaged In warfare on inc
sea and, with rare Intervals oi respite.
Nelson was fighting. He died, shot IN
action, at Trafalgar Tho woriu hau
never known like period OF almost con
tinuous warfare on the soa and Is propaDly
never again To know IT, and LORD Neison
was the embodiment of the whole history
of this remarkable epoch. captain a; 4;
Mahan, ID. c. L., LII. ID, OF the ohltcu
States navy, recently retired, calls MIN
"the embodiment of the sea Power oi
Great Britain, " and writes the LIE Oh |
Nelson, as the eliminating work 10 ms
extraordinary historical Studies OF whlch
the first two volumes have already Won
world wide fame-"The Influence OF sea
Power upon History and the inliuence
of Sea Power upon the French Revolution
and Empire. .,
The first of these two latter named
works was bounded by the dates 1000 ana
1888 thus bringing the general supJec,
up TO Nelson's time while from the seconu
work, Nelson as the central force OF the
British navy and in his own person en-
bodyinQ its marvellous spirit ana its
achievement, is now selected Tor especih
and exhaustive treatment IN thls LIe.
The reader of the previous volumes opens
most impressive work with the utmost
| confidence in the success OF the undertak-
| inv of its author AS presented by the
| publishers, Messrs. Little, Brown a Co.,
\ of Boston, the two volumes tnht
| comprise the work are imposing ana IN
! spiring. They make brace of as hand-
| some octavos as ever came from press.
| Handsomely printed, illustrated with "
portraits, including large nulnDer Oh
| Nelson, and plates in photograyure WIN
| II maps and battle plans, the pooks eie
| topped and bound with sober elegance,
their workmanship is in every way com
| mensurate to the subject matter ana ths
talented authors writing.
The story of the greatest sea hghter the
world has ever known, linked as Is IN
| eyitable with the history of the BRUSH
sea power at its supremacy and the pc
riod of its greatest triumphs is alike me-
moir and history. 1t Is at once STUDY
! of n genius of naval war and tho story Oh
an era of tremendous influence Oh lnc
world $ history and of surprising romantic
interest Ii need hardly be feared that III
Captain Mahan's hands such man ana
such n history were In any danger from
lacking in interest or being made dry py
crovdinp data Completely absorbed as
the writer undoubtedly Is by his subject
and i'm absolute command o. the abundant
. material intrusted To him, nc furnishes
, | a work that is both exact, comprehensive,
ing interest and reading value HIS
| charm nS a writer is not less conspicuous
AS IL is not less worthy of praise than his
conscientiousness as "A historian. Yet he
never allows nimseslf to be run away
= with nv the picturesQueness of his theme
any more than he suffers for an instant
the lapse of readable quality by reason
> of tho compelling call of the facts tha'
, make the warp and wool OF has fabric
u III Is not easy TO express the charm ant
the absolute satisfaction of such worb
as Captain Mahan has given tho woris
4 i'm this Life It almost deiies analysis, al
n IL disarms even the friendly attempt n
n criticism. 1t is not possible. we are sure
~ TO speak TOO highly OF 1T. As history
y In undoubtedly ranks with the highest
= As work upon the specluc suplect III II
z of course Incompatible, without "a riva
n precedent and undoubtedly never I'd D
"a surpnssed 1t fills it's mission FOR al
time beyond any question.
The aim of the writer as To his metho
/. is. as stated 10y himself, to make Nelso
describe himself, TO tell hlmseii inc sIor
of his own inner life as well as his extel
IL nal actions. In this the author succeed
II 40 wonderfully well as to compel specii
" admiration for the triumph OF what wa
10 plainly not the least difficult part OF h
y, | notable undertaking. Not To present
u | uicture Of Nelson AS the author mlBi
y nave drawn it, or even as his contempt
t' aries or of history would have done IL, bi
so tn sneak as Nelson knew himself, no
justified now condemned, now exalte
now pitiaply lowered, tnat expresses u
ne authors purpose. To fulfil this purpo
Ir, there are traces OF the most earhe
nd renression and self command all throue
the work albeit there Is no strain.
times it seems TO be almost impossit
not to comment, not To draw CONCLUSION
not in "a WORD, to steer the narratiN
on But the author so controls ms wTitu
a. "A. "a sEntp
and completed with no suspicion OF Ola
with no favoritism, with no touch OF ps
lla sonal opiuion, with no seeking Tor enc,
Ia and pcrmitting not even the conteihl
rnrlcs of his nero TO influence the sc
T.. drawing. And yet there Is no lack
10 svmpatny We see rs II the writer were
felIoY officer and loving comrade, {
III hand that shelters from all but the
~ duhitable SELF There Is neither excu
nor explanation rs there Is not carei'
-. praise Everything is weighed with Jn.
.e1 cial care, balanced with sincerity ana
''' production is as vivid characterizati
,ck for all time as ever historical page DO
40 lacking i'm no essential feature, complete
in the last detail of light and shade.
IL is "A masterful writing, splent
St. historical work and an imposing GO
trihution to the literaturc of the centu
., "Ihe Life of Nelson, The Embodims
W. of the Sea Power of Great Britain
in. Cnptain a. L. Mahan, ID. {. L., LA
United States Navy, illustrated with
at portraits and plates In photogravure, a
we 5l maps and battle plans. Two voiuni
nus syo. Cloth, gilt top Price, ..
Notable in contomporaneous hction
rye "prisoners of Conscience, 10y Amelia
Barr. published by the Century Comps
esi, and for sale by booksellers at VI. % 1t
~ handsome book illustrated with singu
attractiveness. 1t is IA suggestive as v
st, as a delightful story To read. one can
ged INIT feel better for IL. IL Is book I
go, compels "A reading once u is begun. o
and its motive is made clear as II Is
the early chapters with much art.
life pictures are vivid and IL travels a
'nei rapid pace, its theme being very cle'
defined, and an impressive theme IL
ist.. In is "A tragedy Its pachos Is exquis
Mira Heine might have called IL comedy
-, him who thinks" as contrasted Co its c
E,i. ception by "him who feels.
) in. The scone is I'm the shetland lsla
and its PEOPLE are the rude and prlmi
- ana strongly religious fisher folks III
rali,,lnn H. ns hard as their life. - Da'