The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-26
C E PUBLICATIONS.
Shirley md villette I'm the Haworth
Edition of the Bronte towels.

Following Jane Eyre shirley and
''Villette' come next In the fine "Haworth
edition. of the novels of the Bronte sis
tiers now being issued by the Harpers.
Mrs. Humphry Ward contributes an in
PRODUCTION to each of these two novels, as
TO the first, and In both she is appreciative
and sympathetic, and free from the touch
of condescension which was suggested in
her. treatment of Jane Eyre" Shirley"
was first published in 1919. two years after
the appearance of Jane Eyre" and was
written under most depressing conditions.
The authors dissipated brother
had recently died. and though in a sense
this was a relief. yet the family affection
had been strong and she felt the tragedy
OIL his going. Next, her brilliant sister
Emily failed in health and in three months
died Of consumption; the second sister,
Anne. soon ollowed. leaving Charlotte
alone with the stern old mar her father.
In the intervals of leisure during the Ill
ness of her sisters and In the early months
after their death she sought distraction
in the writing of Shirley" To the natural
impossibility of keeping her usual mental
poise and vigor are due certain artistic de-
fects in the story-a story, however, which
has great merits and which Mrs. Ward
says is a greater favorite with the ma
jority of English readers than is "Villette."
"Untoward circumstance" adds Mrs.
| Ward, makes Shirley less than a mas
terpiece. distracts the thinking brain and
patient hand, is the parent here and there
of blurs and inequalities. But this is, so to
| speak, an accident. Grief and WEAKNESS
of spirit dim the clear eyes or mar the
u~tterance of the story teller from time
to time But the steady growth of genius
Is there all the same. Shirley is not so
| good a story as Jane Eyre but 1t con-
tains none the less the promise and po-
tency Of higher things than Jane Eyre'-of
the brilliant, the imperishable 'Villette.'"
Over "Villette" Mrs. Ward grows as
nearly enthusiastic as a writer of her re-
trained temperament may. She reviews
the characters and characteristics of the
book in some detail and expresses the de-
cided opinion hat this work Is the
authors masterpiece. She quotes a curious
criticism by Harriet Martineau in which
that writer complains Of the treatment
In the novel of love and intimates that it
| justiheS a charge of coarseness. Mrs.
Ward explains this on the ground of Miss
Martineau's provincial ~puritanism and goes
on to say with discrimination: THE truth
Is, of course, that IL is precisely in and
through Charlotte Bronte's treatment of
p~assion-mainly, no doubt, as IL affects
the woman's heart and life-that she has
earned and maintains her fame" She
Mrs. Wardl then goes or to discuss the
secret of the success of women in fiction
during the present century and reaches the
conclusion that whereas in other fields of
art they are relatively amateurs or on
sufferance, in fiction they are the equals
of all the world. accepted, discussed.
analysed by the masculine critic with pre-
cisely the same keenness and under the
same canons as he applies TO Thackeray
or Stevenson, to Balzac or Lott. In the
novel they are recognized masters of
those who know" ''Why?' she asks, and
answers her own question:: Because the
one subject which they have eternally at
command, which is interesting to all the
world and whereof large tracts are natur-
ally and wholly their own is the subject of
love-love of many kinds. indeed, but pre-
eminently the love between man and
woman. The modern mind Graves
for knowledge and the modern novel re-
fleets the craving. which, after all, it can
never satisfy. But the craving for feel
ing is at least as strong, and above all for
that feeling which expresses the hearts
defiance of the facts which crush ii, which
dives, as Renan says, into the innermost
recesseS OF man and brings up or seems 10
bring up the secrets of the Infinite. Ten
derness, faith, treason, loneliness, parting
yearning, the fusion of heart with heart
and soul with soul, the ineffable illumina-
ton that love can give to common things
and humble ~lives-these, after all, are the
perennially interesting things in life; and
here the women novelists are at no dis
advantage. Their knowledge is of the cen.
ter; 1T is adequate and 1t is their own
This Haworth edition will consist OF
seven volumes. The next in order will be
The Professor" and those following the
works of Emily and Anne Bronte. The
books are very handsomely printed, bound
and illustrated. and will be a desirable ad-
dition to any library. For certainly what
ever may be said of books once popular
that have ceased to be read, the novel.
of Charlotte Bronte, at least, belong to the
list of books that live.