New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-04
FAMOUS FICTION.
HAWTHORNE. IRVING. CHARLES READE
AND OTHERS.


MARB bEs FAN By Sa nHE
man Edition With IS Illustrations. In Two
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THE LEGEND. OF SLEEPY HOLLOW vs,or, By
Simpson, Goo coburn. with Borders and Cover BY
Margaret Armstrong. octave PIP " isL w. =
PEG WoFFINGToN. BY Charles Reade::. With
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p ponf 81 H1t Mcclure Company. "
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THE OF s EENRr IsE Siary r Gatsa
u Twelve Volumes Each Volume GSn1ai ,nns
Octave. Longmans, Green CO.
THE KNIGHT OF GWYNNE BY Charles Lever
With Illustrations by PHI In Two Vof pndnn
g 3'{ co PD' XVIII ''' Boston" A'''''
Was Hawthorne ever so romantic. SO poetic
as he was in THE Marble Faun"? We think
not. for OF all the works by him which from time
10 time reappear in special editions this Is the
one that most persuasively tempts the reviewer
10 reread the familiar pages and forget that ne
is looking at an edition about the illustrations
Of which and other external features, MS reauer
wishes perhaps to be first Informed. hawthorne
himself confessed that he had proposed 10 make
this merely "a fanciful story. evolving
thoughtful moral. and did not purpose attempt
ing a portraiture Of italian manners and char-
acter" He was surprised when he FOUND 10
what an extent he had uncOnsciously introduced
descr,pt,ons Of actual objects. He could not. he
said find II in his heart TO cancel the descrp-
tive passages. and his readers have. of course
otof, for fha a
that IS Italian in the Marble Faun" is precious
But even more to be cherished is that glamour
10 which we have referred, the mysterious en-
chanting ouality which takes hold OF the reader
though he only dips into the book, refreshing his
memory with a page here and page there
Coming as in duty bound. TO the illustrations
we NAV testify to their excellence in their com
memoration Of typographical and kindred ele-
ments In the story. The publishers nave per-
haps wisely refrained from touching the elu-
sive magic which means so much and Is so
hard TO express in the artists terms OF placK
and white. They have confined themselves IN
stead TO the reproduction Of photographs OF
buildings. paintings and statues placing them
tactfully in full page plates throughout the VOL
umes The frontispiece to the first OF these Is
. eood portrait Of the novelist. The books are
bound In white and gold, and come in slip covers
of red In q box of the same color.
~ Washington Irving's two little master
nieces Rim Van Wrinkle and The Legend of
Sleepy Hollow" required a particular form of
publication in order TO get themselves read we
should say that they had received 1t In the
new editions illustrated by Mr.. Coburn and dec
GRATED both inside and out by Miss Armstrong
The delightful text makes on each page sort OF
island round which quaint decorations flow in
delicate tints. Facing these, from time 10 time
we fnd full page illustrations, presenting with
art and understanding the personages and scenes
of the narratives The scheme on which these
two books were put together u.s. on the whole,
informal as though the artists and the printer
had put their heads together and lovingly la
bored over each page. so that the effect is al
ways fresh and interesting. The end-papers.
showing tankards glasses and smoking church
wardens" grouped in upon row. are by
themselves worthy to be dwelt upon. and the
covers, in their bravery Of red and gold, give the
last touch TO a piece Of bookmaking adapted
more especially TO the holiday season, and yet
certain to be appreciated at any time Of year
II he's been said OF Peg Wellington that she
was made the heroine OF a romance which Is
more than half a memoir. and that she was
made the heroine of memoir which is more
IMAM nall q romance. Inc reader or llle VOL
ume which is avowedy fiction the Peg Wof-
hngton" of Charles Reade may not always be
in a position to separate the biographical from
the imaginary details in the story Therefore,
Mr.. Austin Dobson in his introduction to the
new edition OF the work. gives q number Of
notes indispensable TO a thorough understand
ing Of the OF the famous actress. He
mentions. by the way his Indebtedness to that
sumptuous volume In which the late Augustin
DAILY paid with learning and enthusiasm, a
memorable tribute TO the memory of Margaret
Wellington. Having said that Mr. Dobson's In
PRODUCTION is full OF interesting facts and is
readable. all his original and accomplished
eBsays are. must pass TO the book itself and
70 Mr.. ThOmson's illustrations. When Charles
Reade wrote this book he dealt with a theme
after his own heart. and the narrative moves
with captivating ease. 1t is rich in human
nature and in humor. 1t is rich also in that
great faculty OF Reade's. his faculty of present
ing living beings and inanimate objects with
extraordinary vividness. He is Of the brill
liant painters in modern fiction. throwing his
work upon the canvas with wonderful variety
OF color and sparkling play Of light and shade
In THE Cloister and the Hearth" he produced
a great book a novel than which there is none
more powerful, more picturesque more absorb
ing or veracious. 1t is his masterpiece
and stands alone. Yet his other novels are
worthy OF II. and among them recognize
Peg Wellington" We glad TO have this
book in a form similar to that which has been
given to other classics illustrated by Mr.. Hugh
Thomson an artist who seems never TO attempt
70 adorn book with his drawings unless he is
in love with H. Certainly. with Peg Voting
ton" as with those other books he has illus
trated. he seems TO be In entire sympathy. His
graceful and original designs exactly fit the text.
"Romola" is usually, we believe, the choice Of
the publisher from among the works Of George
Eliot for republication at Christmas time. But
we are glad 10 see that IL has occurred 10 one OF