The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-11
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Constance-A Translation.

Mrs. Elizabeth New McKeen has trans
lated from the French 9Th. Bentzon's"
novel, Constance" and the book has just
been issued by F. Tennyson Nicely (New
York; 1t is a story so unlike the French
fiction ordinarily accessible TO American
readers that it is especially noteworthy.
1t is singular fact that while there is no
lack of translations of modern French
novels they belong for the most part to
two classes-one dealing with the dregs of
society, the depraved and criminal element;
the other with personages of high social
rank but not less morally depraved. To
such an extent do the proceedings of the
vicious and Cnclean form the burden OF
these translated tales that to many read
ers the mere term French novel; carries
with it suggestion of improperly. More
over. the inevitable impression gained of
French life through their perusal is that
the society of that country is cor
rupt throughout, that wOmanly virtue
hardly exists and manly honor is al
most an unknown quantity. The great
self-respecting. religious. clean-lived. law
abiding middle class with its problems,
its struggles. its sorrows, its triumphs'
thus remains practically nonexistent so Tar
as the mass of American fiction readers is
concerned 1t is the greater pity, because
IL is through fiction mainly that one-half
the world learns how the other half lives,
through fiction that one-half Is kept In
touch with the other and enabled TO SYM
pathiZe with il. For instance, the great
number of English novels dealing with the
commonplace details Of home. social and
parish life have had their uses even when
not of a high order of literature In making
the American public thoroughly acquainted
with that life, and have, without DOUBT
had much to do with creating the sense OF
nearneSS which Americans feel toward the
English people And though there is so
little of il available through TRANSACTIONS
there is no lack of fiction treating in like
manner of the life and thought of the cor
responding class of French people.
The novels of 9TH. Benton" MADAME
Blanc) belong 10 this desirable order, but
they are almost unknown TO American
| readers, publishers and translators having
paid but little attention TO them. Ihls
! is the more surprising since the writer S
book dealing with the progress OF women
! in the United States, written after her
| visit to this country few years ago, Is
we'll known. TIL. Benton writes of peo-
| pie she finds them, and she evidently
| sees clearly, for her stories carry with
them the impress of truth. One feels after
| reading them that a glimpse into real life
/ has been afforded. Each of them without
! being in the least that Objectionable thing,
! a story with moral, is of high moral tone.
! In Constance" the religious element en-
/ tiers; conscience is a strong factor In the
| working out OF the events. Inc plot turns
| upon the question Of divorce. The lover of
| Constance" the heroine of the tale, a
| gentleman of high character, is divorced
from his wife, who willfully deserted him
| and became an abandoned creature. Con-
stance. being a member Of the Catholic
| Church, though her father and friends are
! heretics, is confronted by what is to her a
most distressing problem when she learns
of her lovers past How she decides 1t
| it would be unfair to the reader Of the
book TO disclose. 1t is not necessary to as
! sumo that the author feels as the girl does
or that she approves the latter's decision.
She simply presents a psychological study
and phase of life that laws and customs,
social and domestic, make possible In
! France. Also. she gives pleasing pictures
of rural and village life, offers several
good character studies and conveys to the
pages the atmosphere of leisure and quiet
that seems TO belong to the little communl-
ty. In her early years TIL Benton sat as a
learner at the feet of George Sand, and
| perhaps acquired a degree of that great
| writer's art, but her insight into life and
motives is all her own. Mrs. McKeen has
made an excellent translation of the tale,
not too literal, but yet retaining the distinc-
| tive characteristics of the original - an
| achievement that not all translators reach.
| She has done real service to fiction read
ers in thus giving them opportunity to be-
come acquainted with "a bit of genuine,
| normal French life.