New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-27
WRITERS OF THE DAY
a Series of Contemporary Critical
Judgments.

ANAToLE FRANCE. BY W. l.; GeOrge. with VIZ
PUWSl l,tsI, Of sna Tho pay' Henry Holt e.
ARNOLD BENNETT By r.. j. Harvey Dar;0n.
With porrait and bibliosraphy. i6mo. PIP l2s'
Tie same
II. c. WELLS BY J. D. Berosford. With p cI.
trait and photography. l6mo. pp. l27. Tie
same.
1t is an interesting experiment when
the editor and publishers OF this
Writers of the Day series inaugurate
with these three volumes: to submit
the famous authors of the day still NV
ing and producing to critical appraise-
ment by their juniors, the new genera
ton of novelists which has ALREADY
achieved distinction. Appreciation and
criticism, then, not by critics, but by
younger fellow-craftsmen. Into the
question of the fitness of the creative
worker for the critical function we
need not enter here and now. Sufhce
il to say that these first three volumes
already suggest the answer when de-
cides nothing and has always Deen
known. Some authors possess the crlti-
cal faculty; others lack it. And there
the matter VIII probably always rest:
In addition to the volumes at the
head of this review, three more are al
ready in preparation, and at least one
of them suggests another considera-
ton. Aaatole France has passed the
brow of the hill. 1t is possible that ne
may come out of the war changed
man, that he may be permanently cured
of the ironic aloofness which ne
dropped for a moment to join the de-
S., 90 hn
likely that his work is completed, that
his time for final appraisement has
come. The measure of Arnold Ben
nett we have with sufficient exactitude.
and II. G. Wells will undoubtedly con-
tinue in a new world the work of re-
form begun under the old dispense
ton. KipAng we have learned. I'M
fortunately, to consider already of the
past. But, though we have come to APP
preciate, or fail to appreciate. Joseph
Conrad to the full. is there not, in his
case, promise of a change of manner
that may make defnitive critical
estimate of his work by one of the
younger generation decidedly prema-
ture as yet? And, surely. John Gals
worthy is only at the beginning OF his
maturity. These studies, then, must be
taken with a reservation. The near
future may compel drastic revision of
their estimates In the case of some of
their subjects, at least.
The plan of the series. moreover.
places many restrictions upon its con-
tributors. These booklets are far
shorter than many a "Quarterly Re-
view" critique. They require pro-
ficiency in the art of condensation pos
sessed, one would think. by only few
novelists.
OF the three volumes before us, Mr..
Georges on Anatole France is far and
away the best. 1t is, owing to this
limitation of space, somewhat blotchy,
mpressionistic, rather incomplete, but
it has the advantage of being written
by a foreigner. Anatole France upon
the shortcomings of the Third Repub-
lie is far more entertaining to the
world at large than he can be to
Frenchmen; just as we Americans en-
Joy Shaw on England far more than
Englishmen can possibly do. We have
no feeling Of direct concern in the
matter. But, in outline, and in some
clever detail Of observation and inter-
probation, this is a neat bit of work
for those who know their Anatole
France as well as does Mr.. George.
And tho same holds true of the two
other books. They are in no sense in
Productions to the works of their sub
jects. One must come TO them fully
prepared.
Mr.. barton sums up the judgment
of all but the extreme admirers of
Arnold Bennett. He considers "The
Old Wives Tale" his only great book,
yet even here recognizes his limita-
tions, which, after much beating about
the bush, he finds are the limitations
of his chosen field-the middle-classi-
ness of his people. lack of distinc-
ton which is reflected even in GER
tain lack of discrimination in his use
of words. But
The novels of the eighteenth and
nineteenth centuries were class nov
els. written from class point OF
view. In the new school there
is neither high nor low. Nor is there
a necessary beginning or end. except
the beginning of birth and the end
of death. The characteristic achieve
ment is controlled mass. Even at
the lend" the result may be vague.
But the reader and the novelist have
seen life together. There is
no ease here; letters are no longer
the adornment of graceful exist.
ence. nor fiction the recreation OF
a mind unbent. There is also no
Judgment upon life BY the voice OF
an Old and honorable tradition; nov
elists are no longer the highest and
most generous product of classical
education, nor the vigorous progeny
OF a sentimental nationalism. they
are men-the biological summit OF
the ages. Science, IN fact, mas IN
vaded fiction.
Mr.. Beresford's monograph on n. u:
Wells is not a satisfactory piece OF
work. 1t is honest, painstaKihg' pul
inconclusive, bearing. in consequence.
an unjust air of perfunctorinesS: ms
is due, one thinks, TO mistaken
method Of treatment-the grouping OF
Mr. Wells's works under three heads.
the Romances, the Novels, and sociol-
ogy. regardless Of the time OF their
composition. Now. this authors prog
ress has been all Of one piece. he mas
been romancer, novelist and sociolo-
gist, all three together. II in changing
5roportions, from almost the very hrst'
< chronological Arrangement and treat
ment OF his writings. without regard 70
classification. would probably nave
Welded far better results.
Mr.. Wells, according 10 his critic mas
the "normal vision" o statement open
10 doubt when one considers his shui-
ding avoidance OF he issue 70 DC
faced. the price 10 BIO paid in his treat
ment OF .the constant inability that
"a n