The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-07

BOOKS AND THEIR NAkk<ft- II tsa-s 49,.
THE MIDDLE AGES sfHcy o re
csnsltIons 81 me Production ard q DIS,
frf5Bstan ~ Literature From me 81 o.
the Roman Empire 10 ths Use ~ ~
g. pssenan 4. 81 Vol II Ssw York:
g.. p. Putnam = cons.
Tn TIA second volume Of bis work UPON
Books and T-nelr Mskers" Mr. George
Haven Putnam r@sssws the soFk G0ns
By the earisest printer publishers on ne
continent and in England. and gives
scholarly ard appreciafiYe estimate o tsl@
lFsfiuence o. Luther and Erasmus upon the
Dock making u their time As Mr.. Put
nam INTENDED els book for reference
rather than for consecutive reading. he
has made as complete possible the
lists Of books issued by the more I'M
portsnt publishers during TIE fifteenth
and sixteenth centuries. Whea there were
bat few authors. and q limited reading
pablie. II Ia evident that publisher
work was somewhat different from what
Il Il at tie present time.
The isztE OF these earlier publishers
we're devoted 10 editions OF the comgaste
Bible and OF fae different groups u the
Biblical books. editions 81 tas classics
and OF works Of the church fathers,
rreafiaes on surisprgdencs and books by
contemporary writer's. VITA an occasion
81 exception these earlier publishers took
the ground that II the work Was entitled
70 the honor Of being put into print. II
was proTthy % the most diguifled form
that the presses were capable 81 prodpc-
Ing. there being strong feeling that
printing a work Of literature Ia sixteen
mo or twelve. mo volume showed lack OF
respect for the author as we'll "a for the
public and for the literature itself.
I'm the middle ages" says Mr.. Put
nam In his preface. " the responsible
fly for the selection Of the books
10 be printed. with the exception
OF the controversial writings OF the
reforma ton period, rested with the pub
Hshers OF the time" And he concludes,
therefore, that the publishers OF this
period must have exerted larger meas
IRE OF influence over the direction OF
scholarly Investigation and in the snap
ing OF the literary opinions Of their age.
than haa been possible for publishers In
subsequent centuries. after the produe-
ton OF books had been enormously In
creased and when all classes or the COM
munlty had become readers"
All the machinery OF hook making had
to be- invented by these men. reading
public discovered and educated. executive
ability was requisite, well as judg-
menf and scholarship. There were no
preeeaenfs to follow. there WAS no copy
right" nor royal privileges, and pro-
teesions we're most uncertain supports.
count of such men as Robert Eztenne.
Frohen, the Kobergers and tho Elzeyirs
viii dispute his right 20 cali them men OF
achievement. Ia France the Estiennes
were such family or great publishers.
great scholars and high minded men that
their publishing house continued in ex-
istence for century and a half
Francis /. and his sister. the famous
Marguerite de Ealois. were patrons OF
Robert Estienns. the second OF the name
10 stand at the head OF the great house.
Francis was the only ruler OF the time
IN Europe. who gave any important CO.
operation 20 the encouragement OF liters-
fure and 10 the development OF the new
art Of printing and book making. The
interest and assistance Afforded by Fran
els l. 20 Robert Estienne gives a more
lasting fame and lustre 10 his name than
all his other achievements. whether In
war or peace. IL was also under the
reign OF this monarch that there arose a
large interest In artistic bindings. The
fashion OF a taste for books set by the
king was naturally taken up by the
gentlemen OF his court many OF whom be-
gan 70 form libraries Of handsomely
printed and cholcely bound books One
az the most jealous % these was oirolier
de SERVER. Xicomte d'Agulsy. who Was
for some years ambassador OF France at
the court OF Rome His library was said
enormous collection for the sixteenth CEN
fury. and most OF them were deliberately
and tastcfnlly bound The name OF Grolier
has ever since been held in veDeration by
all lovers OF artistic beekmaking. and the
name was given 20 the famous Grolier
club OF book collectors In New York Ia
appreciative memory OF this man,
Mr.. Putnam devotes a great deal Of
space TO the literary work OF Erasmus
and Luther. Johann Froben. or Basel was
the publisher os the writings OF Eras-
mus. who was the first author IN Europe.
after the invention OF printing. TO make
any money b. his writing.
or Luther and the great influence his
writings exerted upon the literary ac-
tivity of the reformation period. Mr.. Put
nam says: "tt would doubtless have
seemed 90 Luther small thing tn his
LIES work that while carrying on MS
great fight against Rome. he was also
laying the foundation OF the book trade
OF Germany and Europe. but this was a
matter ~ no little moment II only for the
lasting influence OF the reformation itself.
IN addition 20 the great work done rs
fnthsr for the world at large. he rendered
- Germany the essential service OF iniat-
ina (or IS some German historians say
of creating) high German literature. ~
soliciting this tongue for his own writ.
isEs. and what was OF more abiding I'm
Luther made % Il the foundation OF
modern German literature
Lists are given or the publications o.
William Caxton. whom We sre surprised
90 learn only followed the occupation
for nfteen years. OF the koherzers 81
Nuramherw. % the Plautins OF Antwerp
end the EilEevlrs 90 i.eyden and AmsteT-
dam
rho hook represents much time snd
thousht end Is a valuable possession fnS
MI Who are Interested tn literature and
ils history.
pHRoSo, Romance nv Anthony
Hope. New Hors Frederick A Stok=
ford and the calvert Company Gls-
Anthony Hopes new romance = q
masterpiece % as kind Toe scene. unlike
4ts fascinating prcsiectszets. The Prisoner
of Esnda' and --Fnc fgesrt ~ Princes.
Dora" e. aog la3 In Ruitsnio haf al.
reader Is transported e. tAe sahtsd is1ana
~ <oorala. IN the farther end q ere
Mediterranean Al the tsme the STORY
Opens the island Is under the eaatrol o
the Turkish government. and inhabited
hv q few hundred Greeks Phrase IL fhs
pet name by which ths jewellers 81 th,
island know tAe LADY, EupsrasyUe whoSs
famsIy were Formerly lords OF this ugtl,
country.
Fsora Wbeatly. young Engll<hnasn
purchases NeoTsaHs a. piace o. retire
reut from The gayetios - london SO
clnfy aud goes cat IN a snaN yacht wiff
two or thrVo companions 10 visit IT, ieav
fny behind BIN RS heme Mss Beatrics
1Npkrove, wits Vhona ~ WAS engaged q
- married. F-om ire ufoaaent % Land
ing upon thts "desr canrfclous island
4Hsf HH.H an la