The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-07
new FICTION.
ALL THE RUssIAs, by Henry Norman


M. p.
published by Charles Scribner Sons. For
sale by Preston & Rounds. Price
A0o).
A splendid work is this comprehensive
survey of Russia by an accurate OBJ
statesman and graphic writer. who had
already made himself an authority on
contemporaneous Russia. For the read
ing alone. his racy style and power Of
making you feel as though you were by
his side. seeing with his own eyes. are
captivating, while most OF the chapters
OF "All the Russias' surpass the ro-
mances and the novels OF the season for
interest As TO the Information the work
conveys, that Is something. to be thank
full for by those whose pursuits or pro-
fession make II desirable that they be
well informed as well as by the casual
student or the average man who takes
an interest in what is going on through
out the world.
Russia is OF course an especially in
teresting country. None other Is more so.
One reads about Russia with the eager
ness that one Is like TO possess only in
the ancient history OF other civilized ma
tions. And Mr.. Norman, travelling through
Its length and breadth, from the nearest
western boundaries 10 the outermost post
OF the Russian advance into the east,
with note book and camera, and rare
capacity for using both to the best ad-
vantage, never loses sight OF the pic
turesauencss OF his vast theme. the ro-
nance of II, and is skilful enough TO
impart that spirit TO his writing.
The work, its author tells us in pre-
face, is the outcome OF Is years interest In
Russian affairs eliminating In four jour
neys In European and Asiatic Russia. No
mere snap shot. evidently, OF the snug
recital of enjoyable experience by the cal
low traveller. But profound study en-
riched as to manner and language TO de-
light the reader as we'll as 10 afford him
notable Information and the most recent
analysis of the tremendous subject More
than 100 pictures accompany the story,
with four maps.
The work surveys the life OF St Peters
burg and Moscow; of the vast Siberian
territory and its great railway; OF the
people and problems of the multifarious
Caucasus the new and successful empire
OF Central Asia, with its present and pros
pective railway system: the dependency
OF Finland, which is just now having the
last elements OF Its Independence crushed
out OF IL, and the career and policy OF
NJ de Witte who Is the very personifica-
ton Of Russia's contemporary develop
ment; the relation OF Russia to the other
nations neighboring OF remote; chap
ter on the relations between Russia and
England specifically, and an Interesting
retrospect and prospect. An index prop
erly completes this comprehensive survey.
Probably no other feature OF Russian
development Is OF so much interest to the
average citizen OF other countries as the
railway work now making rapid strides
In Central Asia and to this Mr.. Norman
devotes considerable attention, finding IL
OF SURPRISING interest TO the traveller on
the spot and really the most important
and significant proposition I'm that part
of the world. II is vitality connected with
peace and war alike, with commercial
development and international rivalry.
The chapters on M. De witte and his
policy and Russian finance, commerce
and industry are also OF tremendous
significance and are treated IN way
that is consummately illuminating. Con-
clu sions as to how Russia stands with
her sister nations are advanced after an
effective survey OF European politics and
these will commend themselves to the
reader as authoritative and accurate.
Nothing in the work Is much more inter-
esting, not TO say startling. than our au-
thor's analysis OF the Russo German situ-
alton resulting from recent acts and op-
erations with which every newspaper
reader is familiar.
In It's comprehensiveness its particular
treatment OF details OF immediate
and wide public interest. and It's
demonstration OF fairness as well as OF
rare accuracy OF observation and reason
ableness on conclusion. In the food OF
illumination and clevsrness. and vigor In
the telling. this work is unique. 1t is