Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-09
leee As A COOK YEAR.
A Retrost sctive Glance At Some Of the More
lmportai Publications Of the Past Year.

In every class OF bOok-making there
has been during the past year an am
pie output, but important books have
been few. In this country the war in
terests has been used to float great
library of works on the navy, the army
and the happenings on sea and land
books on our new possessions, studies
by strategic authorities on the conduct
of the campaigns, not to speak OF the
vast amount of controversial writing
in magazines and pamphlets, of which
the issue has, in fact, just begun.
General Wheeler has written book
of his observations Of the war. 1t has
an eminent source, but it is not of
much value except that it is fresh
impression of the war by competent
man. Next to him the writings of
Richard Harding Davis and Captain
Lee, military attache for Great Britain
with General Shafter. are about the
most useful contributions to the war
history as yet. From other high mill
tary sources. we may expect contribu-
tions of even more worth. Serving in
the army were men of high literary
repute, among them General Francis
v. Greene, whose work on the Turko-
Russian war is textbook in the mill
tary schools of Europe: Captain Sar-
gent, whose studies of Napoleon's cam
paigns have recently received such de-
served praise, and General Charles
King, whose capital army novels, The
Colonel's Daughter" "Marion's Faith.
and THE Deserter,'' were written
when he was yet captain and who is
out in the Philippines-from these
something of moment may beexpected
but these gentlemen do not appear IN
haste to get into print, and so far war
literature is not important, and what
is valuable has been printed chiefly in
the magazines and is scarcely worth
considering as permanent matter.
In the course of the year we have
had three distinguished novellsts visit
iag this side of the water-lsrael Fang
win. who wrote THE Children of the
Ghetto;" Anthony Hope. whose novels
aud plays are alike of Importance, and
faU CAME whose books and plays are
in he public eye. They have devoted
heir attention chiefly to lecturing or
to their interests in dramas, and not to
he making of new books, although 1t
is understood that they have all made
studies with a view to giving American
acrace to their future productions In
fiction. In fact. there have not been
many good novels from any source TINS
year. From the other side the most
popular contributions to fiction mas
been Evelyn Innes." by George Moore.
Mr.. Moore has just completed new
book which has not reached the mar
ket on this side-''The Fatal Gift,
which is said to be an improvement on
anything he has done.
DR.. Weir Mitchell's ''The Adventures
of Francois" is a story of fine his
torical interest, and it's sources have
been explored by scholar. but its
great charm is its dignity, its calm
literary delivery and an atmosphere
which belongs to the highest and best
levels of good letters.
Another book of much strength, and
one that is lifted from it's professed
place as a novel, is Thomas Nelson
Pages story, Red Rock" chronicle
of reconstruction. 1t is in reality
study of political conditions. illus
trated by a movement in purely social
relations which makes the part OF its
narration fiction, and gratifies the
careless reader, while leaving for the
thoughtful mind the whole substance
of a great problem to consider in
strongly presented aspects.
A strong effort has been made to re-
yiye interest i'm George Merediths
stories, and with some success. Va
rious editions have been issued. and
this writer begins to take a higher
ground of recognition, but these books
are not likely to secure the attention
that Mrs. Ritchie's edition of her
fathers works is receiving. Mr..
Thackeray's talented daughter has
edited the entire library of her fathers
work, and with the happiest facility
has given them appropriate introduce
lions which link the writer with ms
work in the most entertaining fashion.
This edition will, of course. now take
it's place as the authoritative issue Of
Thackerays novels, and 1T is perhaps
the most important Of the year in
fiction.
In history and biography DIR. Moritz
Buschs Life Of Bismarck is the most
serious Offering of the year. 1t is
book that no other person could have
written. because for years, and es-
pecially during the most important
periods of Bismarck's life. DR.. Busch
was MS private SeCTeldIy. LII auuitiOi
to this official relation. DR.. Busch was
accepted by Bismarck as his biog-
rapher, and the conversations which
the chancellor held with him were con-
Quoted with a view to putting clearly
on record the inner and fullest history
# events which thus secured dis
'inctive authority of information and
statement The book is admirably
written. and in reality embraces the
period and movement of continental
politics and wars from the browning of
William Ill. as King of Prussia down
tu he death of Bismarck himself. OF
course thu stofi of the campaigns
We're hitherto well known. but there is
revealed in Buschs book the twiste 1
paths of diplomacy, which gives new
interest to the history. just as 1t con-
tributes to it its most important facts.
1t is not likely that at any near period
DR. Busch's book on Bismarck will be
excelled. Time will give its subject a
new perspective perhaps, but his accu-
rate knowledge OF facts and his faith
full presentation Of them will hold the
book in the high place it has already
taken for many a year. las illustrat-
ing its value the book purportng to
be Bismarck memoirs is in contrasted
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