Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-24
BOOK REVIEWS.

OVVN MvhVvO.
MOLIERE; His Life and His Works.
BY Brander Matthews, professor OF
dramatic literature in Columbia
Dramatists of the Nineteenth Cen
fury" etc. New York: Charles
Scribner's Sons Washington: Bren-
tanO's.
TN large measure the approaches to
this MoIiere set the high character
of its achievement. The hope dawn
ing nearly forty years ago that the
author might one day be able to
write a life of Moliere'': the subsequent
devotion to dramatic literature; the &C
ceptancc and use of scientific habits of
research; the psychologist acumen of pro-
fession: the varied and distinguished ex-
periences of authorship: the virile. un-
academic front toward men and affairs
these, all rooted without question In
dramatic temperament. come out in this
study CT Moliere. 1t is in truth satura-
tion of Mohere, held in and directed by
knowledge In q wide field of dramatics-
4 straight story made primarily to trace
the sources and manifestations of Mo-
Heres genius, the origin and vicisstudes
of his vocation. 1t stands authentic
through the rejection of all but tested
facts of the dramatist's life. In a second,
but equally important, place this is a
study of Moiiere's art through an analy-
sis of his comedies and of their relations
10 the life edUcing them, from which,
by their fidelity TO all human nature. is
forecast the permsnency OF their inhu-
ence in life and letters. At the last Mo
ieIe and Shakespeare. writer's OF
comedy, are placed side by side: Less
myriad less lyric than Shake
speare, Mo,iere is more completely
the master of comedy than Shakespeare.
The predominant influence which Shake
Speare has exerted upon tragedy Moliere
has exerted upon comedy In the nine
teenth century all writer's of comedy.
save Alfred de Musset alone. mot only
i'm France. but in England and Germany,
find their model in Moliere."
THE LIFE OF BENJAMIN DISRAELI.
Fart Of BeacOnsfeId. BY William
Flavelle Monypenny. New York:
The Macmillan Company. Washing
ton: BrentanO's.
out from the bewldering mass of
geographic material held by trustees of
the Beaconsfield estate energies this
splendid first volume of the life of Benja-
min Disraeli. The author approaches his
subject through the avenue of ancestry,
and closes this portion of il with Disraelis
entrance TO parliament or in other words.
with his acceptance OF vocation For the
thirty-three years included by these
limits are, in effect, but a period of
training for subsequent permanent pur-
suits. Nevertheless these are years OF
absorbing and varied activities in law,
finance, travel, journalism, literature,
politics and political writings. Vivian
Grey. Contarini Fleming. Henrietta Tenn
pie and NeneuS come within this time.
The great distinction of this book lies,
al h. I'm -lnIcy of
human nature, nor in his keen insight
and rare discriminative judgment, but it
lies to a marked degree in the skill that
persistently holds Disraeh himself to the
fore, his own explanation and illumlna-
ton. The work. in it's use of material
taken out of Disraeli's own hand. is an
almost exclusive example OF self-revela-
ton One senses. in some slight measure,
what qualities OF the high biOSrapher
went into the selections that produce
this so rounded and vivid impression of
the brilliant. chameieonic character of
Benjamin Disrael-
DANTE ALIGHIERI: His Life and
Works. BY PaSet Toynbee, NJ. A,
d. Lift Oxon. New York: The
Macmillan Company. Washington:
Brentano's.
Frankly owning his desire to write an
interesting and in all essentials COM
pleteiy truthful story Of the life of Dante
Al
certain traditions about this great per-
son that have come under the suspicion
of scientific investigation Moreover, he
justiies this act on the plea that local
tradition and enduring legend have their
uses in the illumination OF character
These minor explanations are accepted
gladly because the author ha: lived up to
his initial engagement to write biogra-
ply of such character that il shall inter-
est the general reader He has succeeded
in giving this medieval, much written
man human nature and fresh aspect
that make Elm both readable and COM
prehensible. The natural approach to the
subject is most pleasing The STUDY OF
Dante is 50 commonly matter OF cap
and gown of scholastic ceremonial and
symbolic geEufiection. that the mere av-
erage reader is let quite outside the
sphere Of this royal arcanum. This Is a
good biogTaphy-in its fourth edition, this
one expanding the study of Dante s
works and adding an enlarged bibliOg-
Iaphy and list of references.
HELENA NGDJESkA: An Auto
biography. Illustrated. New York:
The Macmillan Company. Washing
ION: Brentano s.
From either the early or middle ground
OF memory. as the case may be, on up
to the near present, TO actor OF parts Is
missing from the high company brought
together here in these recollections OF
Helena Nodjeska. From Mccullough.
Barrett and Booth to Forbes Robertson
and Otis Skinner phalanX of genius, or
talent of blood kin - il. Il running COM
ment on these players spreads 10 the Dor
ders of cotemporaneous stage history, and,
moreover, sums To keenly critical view
OF dramatic art itself. Around these
Impressions its thinning company Will
gather as bees about the honey pot. for
10 Intellectual subtlety and sincerity
Nine Modjeska ACIDS rare spirit of COIN
radeshin in art. and {. gift for finding the