Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-24
MAIN CURRENTS IN NINETEENTH
CENTURY LITERATURE BY C,enree
Brandes, author of William Shakes
peare, &c. In six volumes. Vol. "
8TCRAIISM IN ENGLAND nS-5l

D..
New York: The Macmillan COMPANY.
Washington: Brentano's.
George Brandes' Main Currents" are ro
garded today as embodyng the highest
form of modern literary criticism Volume
four OF the series has undergone revision
In the preparation of the entire work for
Its present appearance 1t offers a most
instructive, embracing view of the whole
range of nineteenth century literature in
terms Of the dominant English trait of the
period. naturaltsm. This study of the Eng
ish letters of a century indeed, readiusts
the point of view of the observer of the
political course of the English people for
the tendencies which found expression in
the literary works had their origin in ma
uonal traits which contributed to the vital
activities OF the time NJ Brandes holds
that the chief group of English writers
or the early part of the century had GER
tain characteristics in common with the
Who!e European intellectual tendency of
the period. The national spirit had been
awakened throughout Europe by Napo-
Icons menace of a worldwide empire. But
this national spirit developed differently
according to the racial characteristics.
Patriotism in Germany yielded enthusl-
asm for the countrys past, the middle
dent Catholicism. In France it established
current in antagonism against the elias
steal. In England It produced an interest
ing composite OF naturalistic DEVELOPMENTS
al! attributable 10 the peculiar tempera-
ment of the people.
After reviewing in scholarly detail the
naturalsm OF the various opponents of the
English school, NJ. Brandes concludes thus:
Naturailsm as an intellectual tendency
In England makes its appearance ia
wordsworth In the form of love of all tho
external phenomena of nature n habit nj
toward animals, children, country ueoDle
and the poor in spirit With him as fte
representative, 1t strays for moment into
a blind alley, that of uninspired l,nitafior
of nature. In Coleridge. and even more In
Southey, 1t approaches the German Ro.
mant!ciSm of the day, follows IL into the
world of legend and superstition. but
avoids its worst excuses by treating no.
mantle themes in naturalistic name,
and keeping an open eye on land and ses
and all the elements of reality. In Scot
naturalism occupies itself with the char
acter and history of whole nation, and
In vivid colors paints man as the son of
race and a period In Keats 1t takes pos
session OF the whole world of the senses
and reposes for moment on the neutra
ground between tranquil contemplation o.
nature and the proclamation of a gospel OF
nature and of natural rights. In Moore Il
becomes erotic and espouses liberalism IL
politics: the sight of the sufferings of hi.
native island drives the poet into the ranks
of the lovers OF liberty, intellectual an(
political. In Campbell II becomes tht
eulogy of England as queen of the sea and
expressive of English liberal views Ii
Lander 1t takes the shape of pagan hui
mansm, of too repellent and proud char
acter to win the suffrage of Europe 1t /.
transformed In Shelley into soulful love
of nature and a poetic radicalism which
have at their command poetic gifts Of th'