The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-10

tions of the neighborhood reach him, !
but the traditions of the nation exert |
more, potent influence upon him. /
The One Thing Needed.
To appreciate even approximately
the force of British literary traditions
one must get somewhat comprehensive
view Of British literature, must see 1t
large: must see it in it's historical set
tings, in it's multiform phases; must
know something of the men who created
it, of their characters and environments,
their surroundings looked like, and, OF
course, must know somewhat OF their
work and the spirit that animated and
shone thru it in each case. Then he
will understand the force and refine
ment of the influence that Is driving
any truly conscientious writer OF to,
| day, and that makes him take unnmlteo
pains with his work.
The opportunity to gain such an ap-
probation has never, we believe, been
given in such a satisfactory form as In
English Literature, an illustrated Rec
ord, work in four large volumes by
Richard Garrett, C.B:, Ii. d., and Ed
The first volume from the beginnings to
the age of Henry VIII. is by Mr.. Gar
nett. The second volume, covering the
period from Henry VIII. to Milton, IS
| by Mr.. Garnett down thru the discus
sion Of shakspere and and by a MT. G loss.
Milton to johnson, and the fourth,
from johnson to the time of Queen VIC
toria. are also by Mr.. Gosse. The pup
Usher says:
The design of this work has been to
! produce a book which shall stimulate and
crafty curiosity concerning the leading
authors Of our country and the evolution
of its literary history. This curiosity IS
not to be confined within the limits OF
an acquaintance with a few dry manu-
ais. It appeals to the eye as we'll as to
the ear and as the reader becomes at
tracted to the writings Of this or that
writer, and feels his enthusiasm enkln-
died, he desires to know, and to know in
stantly and without disturbance, not only
who the. writer was and what he wrote
but what he looked like; perhaps at va
. rious ages; where he lived, what his
) handwriting was, and how he appeared
: in caricature to his contemporaries.
This design has been much more thai
: met by the authors, without destroying
! the possible rapidity Of the record witt
an endless burden of detail, giving tn
, reader such an appreciation of Engl1sl
literature as to make perfectly clea
!. the reasons why British literary peopl
are so CnOIOly llCoi d y.
t wealth of Illustration.
One is amazed and delighted wit
II the wealth Of illustration in the fon
X volumes, and it is not the deligh
/ merely that one gets from looking a
interesting or curious pictures. but tina
which comes from pictures that she
light. invaluable light, upon the tex
It Pictures of places and things, scene
- from ancient and later life revealln
= curious and striking customs and Il
# situations, portraits of men of lette
- and of men who influenced men OF lie
= tiers. reproductions of manuscripts an
- Of title pages, of letters and aut
!. graphs. caricatures and much elsa
- are to be found and all have their stol
= to tell.
Yet the illustrations are only one
MANY distinctive features in the wor
The STYLES Of the respective author
their lucid and forcefuI and convincir
way Of putting things are characte
e istics quite usual in such a WORK. y
method, also, Of dealing with dispute
q, points in literary history is for rea ca
II ers of general culture rather than
to those of special attainment who wa
encyclopedic dissertations. The a
thors fearlessly express their oplnlo
on points in dispute and give their re
sons for their beliefs, but with Judlcl
fairness, also, give the other side
If. each case, tho avoiding the lntrlcacl
x Of the problems. The reviews OF T.
OF lives Of the men who are given place
the book are brief and yet comprehe