New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-11

Novel in Spain. 12mo, PIP. TX, 4sa The Mac
milan Company.
Literature in rags and tatters ought on the
face of It. to be a depressing spectacle; but as
q matter Of fact in its most fagrantly uncon-
ventional form. namely. in the Picturesque novel.
II is infinitely engaging We are glad TO well
come this first instalment OF Mr.. Chambers con-
tribution TO the Columbia University Studies In
Literature" He has a fascinating theme, and
while we wish that he had found II possible TO
issue his treatise in complete form we must
admit that the Spanish side Of his task was well
worthy of occupying the entire first volume and
demanding our exclusive attention AS ME-
Chandler justly says: "Rogues in letters could
and did arise independent OF Spanish influence.
suggested by the rogueries OF actually. always
present and always interesting: but. with very
few exceptions. those that count for anything In
the development of romance bear unmistakable
tokens of kinshp TO the Picaros of Spain
II the author is exact in this location OF the
Picturesque inspiration. he is also fruitfully sus-
gestive in his allusion TO the relation OF the
Picaro to 1.-The development of romance That
last word should always have due weight In the
consideration Of a form Of literature that is, per-
haps bound TO be classified as realistic The
value of books like Pablo de Segovia' and
.Iazarillo de Tonnes" is based. of course, on
truth, but none Of the Picturesque authors are
without a certain glamour that quite redeems
and transhgures narratives that would other
wise repel the reader by their frequent coarse
ness and even brutality. You read Quevedo's
rattl,ng masterpiece you read the "Celestina."
YOU read "Guzman de Alfarache" for the move
ment and rough wit Of rough adventures: you
find cynicism in the Spanish writer's as you find
II in lie Sage in France in Scarrons Roman
tn ha
Flanders" Of De Foe but nowhere either on the
Continent or in England do we miss a sort OF
worldly geniality humor that ia sometimes
cruel but can be and often is extremely mel
low.
1t is perhaps we'll that the Picturesque romance
cannot be revived to-day. The temper OF man
kind is changed. and an author who sets about
celebrating the criminal or vagabond In fiction
can no longer acquit himself of the task in quite
the large and breezy spirit which was charac-
teristic Of the early masters. Charles Lever. In
ICON Cregan," made the experiment more or
less successfully, and George Borrow, being
man OF genius. equaed his Spanish forerun-
ners. II he did not surpass them. on their own
ground: but II is far cry from "Lavengro' 10
the latter day detective story like sherlock
Holmes" or Mr.. Hornung's Amateur Cracks
man." In which the Picturesque idea. wonder
fully metamorphosed might be said timidly to
show itself. The passing Of the form is due to
the passing Of point Of view which may have
been cynical. but had also genuine hearty,
open air element IN 1t. extremely difficult for
the modern Imagination TO recapture. We write
no more novels like those Of Quevedo and Mateo
Aleman but we will never tire Of reading the
masters and Mr.. Chandler renders good service
in providing a scholarly and readable introduce
ton TO them.
His method is to sketch first the most ancient
sources Of the Picturesque narrative, going back
TO classical writer's hike Petronius and Apuleus.
and the italian "Novee." and then traversing
the historical position Of each Spanish contribu-
ton to this class Of literature. His history is
well arranged. his criticism is just and his de-
scriptions give an excellent idea Of the various
novels discussed. OF equal value with his text,
and, indeed. a piece Of work for which students
cannot be too grateful, is the copious bibliog-
raphy inserted toward the close Of the book
list Of authorities and full index give to the
first half OF this enterprise a completeness which
aueurs we'll for its rounding out In the forth
coming second volume 1t is work rehecting
high credit on the author and on Columbia Uni
yersity.