New-York tribune., 1901-07-20
EUROPEAN LI7ERAT TURE.
BOOKS ON THE CONTINENT IN THE LAST
YEAR.

The annual review of Continental literature
to which "The Athenmum." of London. has long
accustomed its readers is as carefully prepared
usual this year, but 1t chronicles nothing OF
great Importance. The French contributor
claims that there Is at the opening or the
twentieth century abundance of talent there
are quantities OF celebrities IN France, but he
acknowledges that there is no sign of the
superior work which is to give impulse to
the talents of the time" He tells US that the
theatre alone deserves detailed study. several
successes Of high quality having been seen dur
ing the year. A prodigious number of novels
have of course, made their appearance, few
of them being excellent, but none OF them great
Bourget Zola, Anatole France and Theuriet still
lead the list of writers Of fiction-clever men,
but not dazzling genius There has been
some verse during the year but nothing
deserving particular remark. Francis Jammes
and his followers continue to publish the bald
and realistic rhymes which to them mean 'the
return TO simplicity" Many volumes of criti-
cism have been issued, the greater portion of
them meritorious A still larger number of
books of hstory-all useful and some of them of
uncommon interest-have been published We
may mention NJ. Louis Madens ''Fouche,' the
Vicomte q. dAvenels work, La Nobesse
Francaise sous Richeleu'; NJ. Gautier-Viars's
Marriage de Louis XV'' and Mn. Paul and
Victor Margueritte's semi-romance. Les Tron-
CONS du Glaive." Some creditable books on
philosophy and on social political and economic
subjects also recorded. The reviewers
conclusion regards the common tendency of
the French writers of to-day is that it is found
in IAN aversion to the conventional. the arti-
fcial and a patient and persistent search for
nature, reality and truth"
If France has given forth in the year just
passed little that is distinguished in literature,
Germany has provided even less. We need not
ask the judgment of posterity as to the ques-
tion whether Hauptmann's Michael Kramer
and Sudermann's "Johannisfeuer' epoch
making dramas They are not. Many plays of
literary value have been brought out but
are destined to worldwide fame. The chief
pieces of fiction are two-Spelhagen's new
novel and Marie Won Elmer -Eschenbach's vol
urne of short stories. In mentioning the books
of younger authors the German reviewer
minds us that almost all the narrative art of
the younger generation is artificial, intention
ally artificial" The poetry OF the year is of lit
tie note. Bsmarck's letters to his fancee and
wife and Paul Heyse's "reminiscences have had
great success in Germany.
The output in Italy has been meagre The
present mania is for recitation by the poets of
! their own verses-mostly dialect verses. The
most successful and original of these poets is
| the Roman. Cesare Pascarella. The chief
Italian cities have arranged to hear these poets
| one after the other. The reviewer (Signor Biag
by the way), points out that the histrionic mania
has taken hold OF every one. What s held of
| prime Importance Is TO have a platform no
matter OF what kind and to be applauded by
| the public" The two mogt important works is
sued this year are stated to be d'Annunzio's
"Canzone di Garibaldr" and Boito's "Nerone"
IL. a.,
real success was conquered by Matilde serao's
"Snor Govanna dell Croce" Some valuable
historical works have been published-among
them Signor Gaetano Negri's book on Julian the
Apostate. and Signor ViIlaris Invasion of the
Barbarians." An interesting collection of docu-
ments and studies under the title OF "Bblioteca
Storica del Risorgmento Italiano" has also ap-
| peared. edition Of Cellini's autobog-
raphy. one that is a scrupulously accurate re-
production Of the autograph original in the
Laurentian Library, celebrates the artists CEN
| tenary Translations from Sienkiewicz are popu-
lar in Italy. and italian translation of Gen
eral Wallace's "Ben-Hur" seeks a share I'm this
! popularity" Mark Twain's Prince and the
Pauper." Mr.. Wells's Invisible Man and Poe's
| tales are now available in Italian and Mr.
| Kiplings jungle Books" will be- We
| see no mention OF transatlons Of Mr.. Maurice
Hewletts Italian Renaissance studies which
seems TO us an extraordinary thing. An Italian
translation, in the original metre OF the whole
of Goethe's Faust has been made by Giuseppe
Biagi, and is said to be faithful
The last twelve months In Spain are described
| by the Spanish reviewer "the period of the
magazines" To the popular illustrated maga-
| zines have been added no fewer than five new
| periodicals of serious aims. The "Revista Es-
| pahola" devotes itself to the publication of
unedited works belonging to the old Spanish
| literature. La Lectura" appeals TO the cul-
| tvated minority, and does not attempt to cir
| culate among the general public 4 great many
| WORKS or history have been published during the
| twelvemonth. most of them Of genuine value
| The future Of Spain matter of deep anxiety
now to patriotic writers. is bringing into print
many interesting works Of philosophical and
political character. Various reprints of classics
| have appeared together with numerous studies
| and documents dealing with Spain's literary an
| nails A curiosity is the autobiography of Alonzo
| de Contreras, a Spanish soldier of the seven
| teenth century. TO whom Lope de Vega dedicated
| one Of his pieces In fiction ia Regenta." Inv
| the late Leopoldo Alas, has taken the leading
place. 1t ''has been rightly described by ell the
| critics one of the best Spanish novels of The
| nineteenth century, and some say that if il were
| relieved of few incidents it would be the best {"
Electra" Perez Galdoss anti-clerical play. has
been the most talked of piece of writing of the
year.
sienkewicz has filed the eye Of Poland for the
4 twelvemonth-"a belauded celebrity" his critical
4 countryman calls him in THE Athenaeum" To
his new novel. 1.-THE Crusaders" he has lately
added comedy, Mr. Zagloba as a Match
maker. which is failure few uniraportant
plays and volumes of verse have come from
aTr-a Dol;