The age-herald., 1900-01-03
THE BOOKS OF THE YEAR

From the Chicago Tribune.
 Nothing more forcibly illustrates. the chief characteristic of the literary year than the January Bookman's list of the six best-seling books during the last month Every one of the six is by an American author. If memory serves arigIht this is something that has never happened before It is remarkable illus tration of the gradual but sure literary growth of the United States. It indicates that in due time we shall wrest the lttera- ry supremacy from England, just as we have taken the financial supremacy.
 When the reading public of the United States began the year 1899 1t was most widely interested in six books, of which four were by Englishmen and two by American authors. Even this proposition was unusually liberal to the Americans. The two American books were by Thomas Nelson Page and Dr. Weir Mitchelx F1r the close of the year the fayQf re Mir. Fords Janice Moredh ion Churchilrs "Riohard ior,s. "When Knighthood >slT CCawf6 1s," and Mir. Dunne's latsst voldme J7sbooley'' The list has varied somewhat from month to month, but this fina, half dozen is fairly represen- tatve of the years new reading matter. "No 5 John Street" was widely read for a time, and tiplings Days Work" was prominent throughout the first half of the year. But the whole trend of the year has been toward American works-not because they were written by Americans, but be-
 
 the prevailing literary tastes. The six books now in the ascendency will compare favorably, both in originality and in lt erary finish, with any similar list furnish- ed in years past by transatlantic authors.
 American colonial romances have for some yeacs been gaining in popularity, and the fact that Janice Meredith and Rich ard Carver now head the list shows that this vein has not yet been worked out. Either of these is as fine an example of the modern historical romance as the best living authors in other countries could produce. It is also a matter of remark that four of the six favorites are historical novels, leaving only David Harum'' and "Mr Dooley'' to do the honors for other kinds of fiction Both these gentlemen
 
 of both is a pinuant combination of hu- mc, and homely common sense. The group, as a whole. shows remarkably healthy tastes as well as a newborn power on. the part of American writers to cater to these tastes
 Probably the years total rroduct will surpass all records in the number of books published in England. There has been a tremendous amount of mediocre matter. yet the average has been much higher than it was in 1898. The major part of the fic- tion of the year has been clean and strong and cheerful. The morbid tendencies of a few years ago seem to have eliminated in 4reyulsion datt.>g from Jude the Ob- seure.'' and the passion for cheerful and lively romance has held increasing sway ever since. Popular taste seems now to have drifted away from the more purely imaginary romance ,typified in "The Prisoner of Zenda," and to have turned chiefly to historical romance. The rather mild support given to Edgertpn Castles ex- celent Young April and to. Anthony Hopes equally good Kings Mirror n-- dicates this, does also the somewhat un- expected popularity of Marion Crawford s. "via Crucis." The failure of 'qWhen, Knighthood Was in Flower to- catch the public taste at first has been strikingly compensated for in the last years ruth fdf- delieately wrought historical romandcz.
 The year has had it's full share of neteI worthy literary events in other iines Tasa letters of Stevenson. the life of Millais, and a-new. biograpy of Thackeray are fecept instances in point. The appearance of Goldwin Smiths history of "rhe United Kingdom is as important as any other event in the literary annals of 1899. Poetry has been fairly represented in its distinctly minor way. Essays and belles letters can furnish fine examples of good work is- sued in 1899 in any previous year But fiction holds nearly absolute sway in pnifft of popularity, as in the past, and the most encouraging feature of the year just closed is the high degree of general excellence in fiction and the fact that Americans are writing an increasing proportion of the best of it.