New-York tribune., 1910-05-08
THE NEU MEREDITH
f Note on the Memorial Edition.
Of the N0reis.

la8d 5'- B5 George ii MeTedfth itti 5MamoriaI cd
II. 3eS Vi. So charles scribner's sons
RfEolnAA FLEMING, story BY George Mere
Meredith Memorial edition. Illustrated. Svo
Ip iii 572 Charles Scribner's Sons
The new and beautiful Memorial" edition of
the writings OF George Meredith comes on at
far race q speed. -Four more volumes in it
haze reached Us and others VIII soon follow. 50
that lovers Of the novelist viii not have long TO
wait before the entire set is ready for them. II
Is good 10 have these books in such attractive
form 50 well printed and with precisely the
right illustrations. The photographs Of scenes
associated with Meredjths work turn the mind
toward his personality in a subtIy suggestive
way. and ID one can read the novels without
thinking cf the man behind them In glanc3ng
I Tie two compositions with which this new
edition was opened. The Shaving of Shaspat"
and The Ordeal Of Richard Fevere1- We noted.
arropoG of the contrast between them. the i'm
Tortance to Meredith Of an intensely human mo-
rive. engaging his deepest SyrnPathieG- He
lacked i in -Shagrat- and therefore failed u
achieve anything ike the effect Of power which
belongs 10 Richard FevereI," book brimuing
over with genuine emotion. We hear much Of
the brain stuff in MeTedith'S novels II is as
they are enriched by the stuff that comes also
from The heart that their hold Oh the magma
ton grows stronger and frmer-
One thinks q this in turning over again the
RACES of the three tales which the new edition
NOW brings before Us. As q maker Of comedy
Meredith let himself go III "Sandra Bcilont,
and even frankly descended into farce. IL the
same moment IN which We welcome her as fol
10 tIlt irleffable ladies Of Broo1eId we hn6 our
selves wishing that Mrs Chump were not quito
such \ t1gure Of fun. The truth is that there
are times when she Il not funny at ali. but be
comes z little wearsome, if not positively 2
bore. But the broad movement Of the romance
is not disturbed by this unduIy grotesque type.
i goes steadily TO the appointed end, for it is
impeIled by 4 passionate sincerity So likewise
the heroine triurnphs over the welter Of senti-
rrent in which she swins Emilia is poignant
creature wavering sometimes between reality
and unreaIity, bur in the long run making an
Irresistible appeal. Above ali this book has
charm. d charm traceable 10 Merediths tenn
permanent. his habit Of mind. his satirical zest
W can imagine how il must have stirred some
- least Of his contemporaries when II first ap-
Eeared making them feel that a new. thor
oughly self-sustaining genius had arisen It IS
not ly any means q perfect work Of art, but
.,-e-,-yybere II is rich in individuality, stamped
with the quality Of a man who. # not born 10 be
= poet at all events had il hiIr something Of
the poetic fire. In its QuiveTins sensitiVeneSs
lis poignant feryors. ''Sandra Beoni' is one Of
tho most intensely personal of ali Of Mcredith's
books.
The stories bv which il Is bracketed in the
chronology Of his work Evan Harrington and
..Rhoda Fleming share some Of its traits but
IN essentials they illustrate his more perna-
f1ertfy characteristic mood IN the presence OF
tie human drama IN these books there is not
the same pressure of an exotic atmosphere to
dispute his interest coming TO close quarters
with British lie and character Despite The il
sularity Of the Miss Poles and their household
ue ave perpetuaIly aware in Enilia's story Of
something GOLDEN in the air, something ro-
mantle something which vagucy alters the per
.sr,ectIve Of the scere. Evan Earrington's strug
p. 10 demonstrate that taIlo-'s COLD be
q gent len5an and Tie bitter experience Of Rhoda
Fleming and her sister SAVIOR throughout o. the |
British soil IN both instances merecith warns |
e. his work with ms fullest feeling for familiar
truth Though has tricksy haIDor finds free play, !
IS always and imaginative sympathy carries |
him T,ercingly the suhtlcst depths, Is en-
rhaticay Of flesh and blood that his narratives
are formed. The farcicsI motive IN Fan lar
rington" leaves unharrned tie mobility Of tie |
main issue in that hook, AID II 'T,loda Flen-