The age-herald., 1899-01-08
Books :!B3.! !,!: o!E. -Read 'E3' cad;


A correspondent to the editor of the let ter-boX in a recent magazine complained that in the reviews of the magazine it was so rarely that anything nice was said of the books. The facetious editor replied that it was because they so rarely deserved it. He then went on to say: When a per- son publishes book and sends it to us for review, he probably wishes to know what we think of it, and are always distin- guished by cheerful willingness to do so Naturally we have to say what we think and not what we do not think Then again. there is so much log-rolling and dishonest puffery in the literary world that what is most needed at the present time is some one who will go around and smash things in a good, whole-hearted, energetic fash ion We modestly present ourselves as candidate for this office Seriously speak, ing, what this country most needs in a literary way is a critic, or rather a regi- ment of critics, to discourage amateurish work
 The keynote of a real serious problem Is struck in this quotation. Aside from the vast amount that could be written upon the question of tho enormous output of work indscrminately termed literature and which recently called forth the query from a certain New York daily, Is all the world to write books? there still remains an inexhaustible amount which might be said about the critics of these same books
 At the present time much space in the leading newspapers is devoted to a dis discussion of literary questions Though at the present time there is a widespread complaint that much of this work bears the evidence of trade work-that is, that too much attention is given to a large class of books evidently sent by large pub Extraordinarily these same publishers expect the books to be favorably reviewed. irrespective of their inherent merits In this way 1t is too often the case that the critic is denied the privilege of selecting only those books which are worth review ing, or which appeal to his literary taste; and consequently the review possesses no individuality or force. It is surprising the amount of energy expended and the in- genuity displayed by publishers in adver- Using books of all classes. No work no matter how meritorious it may be- ever seems to be left to make its own mark in the world. Recently a certain publishing house which advertises broadcast an- nounced Its willingness to send any of it's PuDLCdliouS lO any duuTeSS upon the re- ceipt of postal card request. trusting to the honesty of the prospective purchaser either to return the book or pay for it.
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 This certainly showed a most remarkable confidence in human nature. But the old truisfn finally holds good that you cannot fool all the people all the time and tho discriminating reader soon learns the pub fishers who purchase manuscripts-often devoid Of all literary merit-and then de- pend upon carefully prepared announce ments and favorable reviews for their re- ceipts. Such a reader learns also that there are reliable houses which can almost invariably be relied upon for books that are not only worth purchasing and read ing, but worth digesting. Of all the enor- nous output of books of the past year not a great number of really notable ones can be recalled A vast number of books particularly of fiction, that have been ex- tensively' advertised and favorably re- viewed scarcely survived to see the dawn of the new year of '99.
 In Birmingham during the holidays the favorite selling books were "Red Rock" bv Thomas Nelson Page; "The Days Work, by Kipling; "TattIe Tales of Cupid" and "Untold Love-" by Paul Leicester Ford: Castle Inn" by Stanley J. Newman. Battle of the Strong" by Gilbert Parker, and "Roden's Corner" by Henry Seton Merriman. Of course "Prisoners of Hone" by Miss Johnston. was in far greater de- mand than any favorite seller, no matter how popular the book, and it was almost impossible to supply the demand Follow Ing In close order of popularity were 'Tekla," by Robert Barr; Adventures of Francois" by Dr. Mitchell; "Ashes of Elm pire,' by Robert Chambers; Afterwards" by Tan Maclaren, and "Penelope's Prog ress," by Kate Douglas Wiggin In the de- nartmant from fiction the best selling books were Ave Roma Immortalis," by F. Marion Crawford; "In the Forbidden Land" by A. H. $. Bandor; "The Story of the Revolu- tion,' by Henry Cabot Lodge. and "Col- lections and Recollections," by One Who Kept Diary, which was considered by many readers the gem of the season All are books by wellknown and accepted au- thors, which proves that the discrimination shown by the reading public in Birming- ham concides with reports of the lists of favorite books from all the country.