New-York tribune., 1900-11-03
BOOKS AND AUTHORS.
CURRENT TALK OF THINGS PRESENT
AND TO COME.

Cooks about the Far East and its Question are
coming almost too abundantly from the press
hut the authoritative ones that throw valuable
light upon the present complications are all
doubtless sure of an audience. Such one. 1t
"a stated is Alexis Krausse's book on '"The Far
East soon to be issued by z. P. Dutton & Co.
The author who is said to be an authority on
Oriental questions. writes from the Enslsh
point of view, and is fully alive to the danger
of Russian encroachment.
The forthcoming volume of THE Angio-Saxon
Review" which is the sixth, is bound in bind
ing conied from one of lie Gascon's. described as
the most decorative example of his work owned
in England 1t is found book Formerly
owned by George III. and now In the British
Museum and is notable for the amount OF fine
gold 1ligree upon it.
Probably one of the last books that will be
written about the Civil War by a general off,
cer engaged in 1t is Jacob Doson Coxs Mill
tary "Reminiscences of the Civil War" that will
appear from the Scrbners' presses on November
II He was formerly Majo--General command
ing the Twenty third Army Corps, and Is said
to have been of the generals on whom Sner-
man. his immediate chief. most relied. He was
also a iurist and military critic OF distinction,
whose discussions of the war have gained great
record of interesting facts which General Cox
alone was competent to narrate; but there are
also much important comment and characterize
ton The book Is said to he full of new data, as
well views.
Lord Rosebery's book Napoleon: the Last
Phase" is published this week by Harper d
Bros AS the title signifies. it is not a biography
of the French Emperor, but deals altogether
with his life at st. Helena. 1t is full Of anec-
dote Of his days there, of the details Of his
surroundings. and of personal matter ABOUT his
attendants 1t is also full of severe structures
on the conduct of the English toward their
great captive. particularly that of Lord Bath
urst, the British Secretary of State for War
and the Colonies. Lord Rosebery's answer to
the question. Was Napoleon a great man? is
interesting He gives 1t thus at the end of his
book:
If by great" be intended the combination of
moral qualities with those of intellect, great he
certainly was not. But that he was great in the
sense of being extraordinary and supreme we
can have doubt. If greatness stands for
natural power, for predominance, for some
thing human beyond humanity, then Napoleon
was assuredly great. Besides that indefnable
spark which we call genius, he represents
combination of intellect and energy which has
never perhaps been equalled, never certainly
surpassed He carried human faculty to the
farthest point of which we have accurate knowl-
edge. Napoleon lived under the modern
microscope. Under the fercest glare of scrutiny
he enlarged Indefinitely the limits OF human con-
ception and human possibility Till he had lived
could realize that there could be so
stupendous a combination of military and civil
genius. such comprehension of view united to
such grasp of detail such prodgous vitality of
mind and body. No represents so
completely and conspicuously dominion, spen-
dor and catastrophe He raised himself by the
and ruined himself by the abuse of super
human faculties. He wrecked by the
extravaganza OF his owl genius. No less powers
than those which had effected his rise could
have achieved his fall.