New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-13
SPANISH LITERATURE.
CERvANTES AND LESS FAMILIAR Au-
THCRS.

THE LATER RENAISSANCE. By David Hannay. !
Geriods of European IIstory) Octave PIP |
Kill, 3s1. Charles Scribncr's Sons
Mr.. Hannay adopts with only half-hearted
qualification the mot" Of MOntesquieu. VINO said
OF Spain that it had produced but one good DOOR,
which written to prove the absurdity oi ai'
the others. 1t is pointed out. justly enough, in
this latest addition TO Mr.. Santsburys series OF
manuals On periods OF European History" that
in Spain il is a case Of Cervantes first and the
rest nowhere Don Quixote" is one of the pos
sessions Of the race. Nothing else in Spanish
literature has permanently established itself out
side the Peninsula. But should not grow
too pcssiris,ic over this fact and assume, as Mr..
Uannav does. that Cervantes invaldates all his
countrymen In literature. The historian of Span
ieb letters has no right to take a criterion
the Significance Of this work that TO alien
readers He must remember the national point
Of view When Matthew Arnold spoke dispar-
aginrlv to an eminent Frenchman about a
French writer whose much laudcd merits he
could not perceive, his nterlocutor made this
conclusive retort HE is important to us 30
there are writers for whom Mr.. Hannay has
scant patience. but they are important to SPAIN
and therefore worthy or careful study. Inc
trouble seems to be that our author mas Dor
rowed not only the cocksurc method OF MS eu-
itor. but has tried to use the common sense on
which Mr.. Saintsbury 80 prfdes himself. the re-
suit is that he gives too much prominence To MS
own opinions when he ought to be Describing
and Interpreting his authors. We get too much
Critical estimate" and too little literary history
Spanish literature will not stand this treat
ment. Broadly speaking. il has always suffered
from the conflict OF spontaneous feeling with
academic ambitions. Thc early poetry was soon
overlaid with RI ,torical conceits- At the time OF
which Mr. Hannay treats It's natural impulses
were clogged with literary affectations to an
extraordinary degree The drama was romantic
and passionate but it was terribly afflicted with
convention, and the most prolific or the play
wrghts was also the most confirmed follower of
system and formal design. The novel was
| mere weller of pastoral and chivarous senti-
mentality until Ceryanes, with ms Don
! Ouixotc" drove pseudo romance off the field
and in its place the "Novela de Picaros was eS-
| tabshed a form Of literature as offensive in
some ways the mawksh objects or Ger
vantes's wrath were in others. but far heaithier
and destined to achieve more honorable fame.
| In short, Spanish literature may be Regarded as
a turbid stream out of which some works or
high value were rescued Don Quixote" stand
| ing at their head. 1t is important to remember
however, that this stream, although turbld,
flowed through the life Of great nation; that it
took its colors and its direction from the heart
Of Spain. and that. accordingly, in its entire
length and breadth it is a spectacle of great in
terest for every thoughtful student Of national
| development. Mr.. Hannay has made the mis-
take of being too critical; a Spanish book that
has no burning thoughts in it he considers Of