New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-03
4 KINGS CONSORT.
Sophie DOrOtheaS Letters 10 Count
KOnigsmarck.
THE LOVE OF AN UNCRowNED QUEEN.
SOPHIE DOROIHEA. CONSORT OF
GEORGE ! AND her CORRESPONDENCE
WITH PHILIP CHRISTOPHER COUNT
kONlGSMARCk BY W. II. Wilkins New and
Revised Edition. Svo, PIP 45l. Longmans. Green

& Co ''- '1O''s MANS vi e'-'
one OF the most dramatic love stories in his
tory is that of Sophie Dorothea of Celle and
Hanover and the handsome adventurer,
konigsmarcN Our readers will remember that
Mr.. Wilkins's picturesque narrative was some
time ago reviewed in these columns-we have
now to note the issue OF a carefully revised
edition OF the work. MIR. wilkins has the
credit OF discovering by chance and publishing
for the first time in English the letters of the
unfortunate princess and her worshipper-a
correspondence which had been hidden away
lot many years in the library of the little Uni
Nersity OF Lund In Sweden. All these appeared
In the hrst edition, the only suppressions being
OF passages ia which K0nigsnarck. In the
coarse vein of his century. relates anecdotes Of
his comrades in carnp. There are over two
hundred Of these epistles, but they do not ex-
haust the correspondence between the lady and
the soldier Since his first edition was brought
out the author has found that a further in
staiment is preserved in the state archives at
Berlin and that still another instalment is in
the custody OF one Of Sophie Dorothea's de-
scehdants. the Duke Of Cumberland at his cas-
uA Gmdnden- He has examined the letters at
Berlin and tells US that, like those at Lund.
they are alternately full Of jealous reproaches
and passionate avowals OF love, and they shed
Az AASSiA ii6ll on the tragedy. lie has not
printed these new letters in this edition. hop
ing in a later one TO be permitted to present
the whole correspondence as preserved at Lund,
at Berlin and at GrnInden.
The revised edition, the author admits.
shows few changes aside from the addition of
notes specifying authorities or adducing proofs
OF the genuineness Of the letters He has left
out a few of the letters which were merely
repetitions. and he has shortened his account
OF the accession OF Sophie Dorothea's husband
to the English throne. The portrait of that
british George he has certainly provided with
no softening touches. but the lives in these
pages, whether the painting be truthful or not.
So do Duchess Sophia, the plain, ambitious
daughter Of the lovely Queen Of Hearts, and
Countess Platen, the base intriguante, and
Sophie Dorothea, poor little, impulsive vain,
waTm-hearted, wrong-headed victim Of political
policy and OF her own unstable character. The
romance that ended with the midnight murder
Of K0nigsmarck IN the long corridor in the old
Hanover Palace is described with a faithful
ness based on many unpublished state docu-
Inents, and the same care is displayed in the
account Of Sophie Dorothea's imprisonment of
years IN the Castle Of Ahlden The story IS
told with an impartiality oddly veined by an
obvious sympathy with the princess-a sym
pathy which in many reader takes its rise no
doubt in a hearty contempt for her husband
The book. painstaking history II is, is as ami
mated vivid and absorbing a good novel