Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-04-18
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LITERATURE AND LIFE.
A. j. y.
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SOME OF THE NEW BOOKS.

When Maurice Hewlett some three
years ago published his Forest Low
ers' the critics were generally agreed
that here was a new star of unwonted
|hrilliancy, not a few Of them pronoune-
ling iii the finest romance given TO the
world for some time.
Frederic Harrison says we have in MIR.
Hewlett a genuine writer of historic ro-
Rance.
In his Richard Yea-and- Nay we
have a piece of historic writing that has
rot been surpassed since the production
of 'Ivanhoe'' 1t is as If the historic
characters in Shakespeare had slept
again upon the stage of life, changing
the poetic measure OF their dialogue
INTO the quaint and stately prose of our
author.
Covering as it does the life and death
of Richard, the scenic background
spreads over England France, the Med
iterranean, the hills OF Palestine during
the crusade. Wherein every spot is made
alive and beautiful by the Imagination
of the author.
The book is divided into two parts
following the title of Yea and Nay
and showing the contradiction in the
character of Richard Crur de Lion as
u man. a king and as lover.
To Seize thus on a person of whom
the world has only the dimmest record
or tradition, and build him up into a
the virtues and vices of the house Of
Anjou, and so idealize his virtues and
actualize his faults as to make natu-
-
genius in the artist.
Richard is shown to US as the iron.
warrior, the arrogant king, the nnre-
,lenting enemy; again, as the dauntiess
hero, the generous foe. the faithful
friend, the passionate lover. the Chris
tian knight, the amounted crusader.
Marvellous is the authors study of
Richard and no less skillful his portray
al of Jehane. the lady of the fair girdle,
whose capacity for love and sacrifice
constitutes the chief interest and pathos
OF the story.
In denying Richards desire to crown
her as queen and later in giving herself
TO the Prince of Assassfns in order 10
save her lovers life she carries self
remuneration to its extreme limit. In
fact her final disposal seems to me an
ugly blemish on noble. creation, and
is the more objectionable nasmuch as ii
rs wholly an invention OF the author and
without the least warrant of truth I
could not help but wish Mr.. Hewlett
had made other disposition OF his hero
inc.
To those unacquainted with the an
thor's style, a couple bits from the
book may prove of interest. Here is
Richard:
OF him. son of a king, heir of a king,
II you wish some bodily sign, will say
shortly that he was a Very tall young
man, high colored and calm in the Saca,
straight nosed. blue-eyed, spare of
flesh, 1.-the, swift of movement. He was
at once bold and sleek. eager and cold
as ice-an odd combination, but not,
more odd than the blend ~ Norman dog
and Angevin cat which had made him
So Furtive he was not. vet seeming
to crouch for a spring: not savage. vat
Dritned for savagsry: not cruel. "
quick ON the affrant and on the watch
Tor II. He was neither rogue nor d
and vet he was as cunning as
the one and ashcedless as the other Ht
was arrogant. but his smile Yelled the
ieautl- you sd"fit spfsSl III q sleepy look
he had His hiemishes we're many. his
weaknesses two. He trusted to his avn
force too much. and despised everybody
else in the world Not that he Thought
them knaves; he was certain they were
fools. And 50 most of them vere no
doubt. but not all. Tho first flush OF
him moved your admiration great
height. great color, the red and the vel
low his beard. which ran jutiing 10 a.
Joint and gave his law The dubbed lool,
of big cats his shut mouth and cold.
considering eyes. the eager set of his
head. his soft, padding motions hunt
ing leopard quick 70 strike, but quick
10 change purpose
And here is portrait of Jehane:
Her face, moon shaped was as pale
as moon, her loose hair. catching
light, framed it with gold. she was all
white against the dark: seemed to loom
IN 1t taller than she was or could have
been fie noticed how tai! she
vas, and how slim save for very beau
tiful bosom. toe full for Diana,s. Whom
else she resemblad. There was an al,
g. mingled surprise and defiance about
ner. she was silent girl .Fronted like