The Washington herald., 1910-06-22
Il DAILY
BOOK REVTEW
''WHIRLP0OLS.s

IL Is the penalty of every author who
has proasced book that is considered
very good to have all his later works
compared TO it. and. In nine cases out of
ten, his later writings viii not be up TO
the standard of the other
This is particularly true of those whose
work has gained a worldwide reputation.
as did Henryk Slenkiewicz, with his
QUO Vadis" and Fire and Sword" to
say nothing Of his other novels OF Poland
and her history. But his later novels
have fallen far short of the standard
that he set In these earlier works. He
has turned to descriptions Of latter day
life, and he seems to have lost that abil-
ity to picture events and persons with
the viyidness and wealth of color which
were so prominent in his earlier works.
Perhaps it is the fault of the time of
which he Is writing, There are no hap
penings now that could be depleted in
the same manner as those of the stirring
days Of the fights for Polish independence
or OF the greatness Of the Emperor Nero.
There is nothing that he can describe to-
day that he can let his imagination run
riot on as he did in these novels, which
have thrilled and entertained thousands:
so that 1t may not be the fault of the
author.
But. be that as il may, he has certainly
lost his ability 10 charm through the
use Of words TO paint his vast caavases
and draw his scenes of barbaric splendor
lie no longer thrills his reader as he
did with the tales OF the Roman orgies
or the charge OF the polish Ieglons IN
Pan Michael or THE Deluge." His last
three books have shown this change OF
style and consequent loss of ability TO
hold his reader. and 'Whiripools" shows
it even more than any Of the others.
In II he takes the Poland Of to-day and
attempts to draw picture Of the condi-
lions there. Probably the picture Is a
good one, II most likely Is true to the
conditions there, but IL does not appeal
on this side of the water. In the original
Polish II may be a great book but in
English II falls far below the class Of the
earlier works OF the author. The gather
lngs OF the socialists, the cries OF the
working people. and the appeal against
Russia and the organized government IN
Poland may all have a great significance
ia that country, but It Is hard for one
10 grasp them here.
IT is evident to any one who merely
translated, and many OF the faults Of the
work may be laid az the door OF the
translator. who has used a very stilted
style, IN places much resembling the
German transposed construction. and this
has great deal 10 do with the fact that
the book is hard 10 read. But he cannot
be accountable for the plot for the book.
nor for the fact that the love story,
which, although not the motif Of the
story. yet engages large amount OF the
attention Of the reader, Is never COM
| pleted. but left IN an unfinished condi-
1 ton. II IS a pity that the author has
deteriorated In his later days. and more
OF a pity that he was unable TO get a
translator who would be able 10 render
the book into language betting the rep
utation OF the writer
Should the author return 20 the scenes
Of his earlier triumphs and procure a
translator with the ability OF jeremiah
| Curtin, who was responsible for the rem
derinR of Quo Vadis'' and a number OF
his other works. he would doubtless re-
| gain the favor he has somewhat lost
through the poorness Of his later works.
| Boston; Little, Brown * Coz