New-York tribune., 1901-12-29
LITERATrRE " 1901.

In looking back over the year that is now
dying the reader finds much that is interesting
IL little that is really memorable to recall The
death Of the Queen produced food OF elegies,
but nothing wholly worthy Of the event was
published. Indeed poetry cannot be said 10
have fourished in the last twelve months. The
best things written have BEEN after all, OF a
minor character. Lovers of literary discussion,
of pure criticism. have had. on the other hand.
some good work put before them. Mr.. ]. Chur-
ton Collins brought out in March his volume en-
titled "Ephemera Critica" and the vigorous on
slaught which he made in that book upon log
rolling, mediocrity, fat incompetence and divers
other Affections of contemporary literature hurt
the feelings of some individuals, but on the
whole did something to clear the air and to ad-
vance the cause of honest thinking and clear
writing. Another good book of essays was pub
lished by Mr.. Herbert Paul. in London. and
third has only just appeared In New-York from
the pen of Mr.. w. c. Brownel
In biographical literature the year has been
rich. 1t has witnessed the publication of Mr.
Rashlelgh Holt Whites Life of Gilbert White
of Selborne," of Mr. Andrew Lang's The Mys-
terry of Mary Stuart" of Mr.. Balfour's Life of
Robert Louis Stevenson" of THE Letters of
John Richard Green" which through Mr. Leslie
Stephenss admirable editing has the signifi-
-
King Monmouth" of Mr.. Thompson's Eugene
Field of Mr.. TauDton's Thomas Wolsey," of
Mr.. Scudders James Russell Lowell" and Of
more interesting books, indeed than IL Is posi-
BILE to name in this place. We have also seen
the completion this year of 1.-THE Dictionary of
National Biography" and alas, the death has
! also been recorded Of Mr.. George Smith the
i founder and publisher of that Indispensable
work of reference. Other matters having a Der-
sonal significance might be mentioned such as
| the communication of Count Tolstoy by the
authorities of the Greek Church and the contro-
| versy precipitated around the name of Robert
Louis Stevenson by Mr.. Henley's recent ESSAY
on Mr.. Balfour's biography of the novelist but
! into the domain of personaia il Is perhaps
| scarcely worth while to enter.
| Fiction, of course. has been rampant and we
refrain from signalizing any of the innumerable
| novels and short stories which have appeared
| upon the horizon. The list would be too long
| for 1t would include in addition to several works
| of exceptional interest remarkable number of
books possessing merit. One of the salient liter
| airy phenomena of the day is the high average
of excellence attained by novelists Of the second
| class. If there have been few brilliant stories
| published since December 81. 1900, there have
! been at least a score which 1t has been pleas
ure to read. Two crazes have been responsible
! for some good work and for more bad The sue
cess of "An English Womans Love Letters''-a
book that may have its readers STILL but long
| since ceased to get itself raved about-set un-
numbered writers TO work along epistolary lines,
| and boredom at one time threatened to envelop
| the reading world. The popularity of the his
torical romance has likewise resulted in the in
| Fiction upon US of vast amount of twaddIe
But there have always been new novels in the
perusal of which the horrors of the letter writ
| ers and the historical romancers could happily
! be forgotten.
! One point in book production and In periodi-
cal literature should especially be noted illus
tration has reached high standard in both de-
| partments, and this may be said not only with
| reference to the work of the artists employed.
but where reproductive processes are concerned
| The development of the latter has been extraor-
| dinarily gratifying, resulting in the publication
| Of an enormous quantity of good miscellaneous
illustrations. and especially in the production of
| great number Of works of art history and OF
| travel which would not have been half so inter-
esting If the camera and the processes aforesaid