New-York tribune., 1922-11-05

@N HE Second Empire has always
n had something of the air of
historical anti-climax. 1t
has seemed like an inadequate
and superfiuuous sequel to the tre-
mendous drama in which the first Ma
poleon astounded the world with the
spectacle of his cxaltation and his
downfall. And the star of Napoleon III
is dim beside the remembered splendor
Of that prodigious comet which van
ished into the darkness of Saint
Helena. But Mr.. Philip Guedalla has
written book about Napoleon III in
which that extraordinary man and his
experiment in imperialism are por-
trayed in way which makes one real
ize their Importance and their signif-
cance.
Mr.. Guedalla's method in "The
Second Empire" will inevitably suggest
q comparison with that Of Lytton
Strachey in "Queen Victoria They
are alike, inasmuch as they may both
be said to consist In the relentless ap-
plication of irony to accepted historical
values. But the resemblance ceases
there, and the subtle malice which
Mr.. Strachey brings to bear upon the
sanctities of the past. is very different
from the vein of elaborate satire in
which Mr.. Guedalla writes.
Mr.. Guedalla's style, which is one
of the outstanding features of his
book, is curiously uneven. At its best
it is extraordinarily brilliant and eff
fective, and at it's worst it is preten-
sious and inept. Mr.. Guedalla is capa-
BILE both of genuine wit and of
labored and tedious facetousness, and
in his efforts to arrive at the one he
frequently relapses into the other. But
both the merit and the defect of Mr.
Guedalla's style lie in his epigram-
matte facility.
| Mr.. Guedalia has very unusual tai
ent for coming critical epigrams,. which
| he abuses to an extraordinary degree
He is so obviously bent upon translat-
ing his ideas into epigrams, and ne fre-
determination to do so that one some
times suspects that the ideas them
selves may be no more than pretexts
for the epigrams. But despite an os-
tentatious striving after effect. which
occasionally lends his conclusion an
air Of insincerity, Mr.. Guedalla's tai
ents are of very high order, ana ne
| has written book which is one OF the
most brilliant and original pieces OF
historical criticism that has appeared
in years.
yKHHE Second Empire was the reality
IL into which Napoleon III translated
the dream which dominated his Hfe'
! and it's history is inseparable from
| his. Mr.. Guedalia shows his recog-
nition of this fact by making the career
and the character of the Emperor the
main theme Of his book. The portrait
which Mr.. Guedalla draws OF Napoleon
III gives an extremely just and vivlo
conception OF one of the most mis-
understood figures Of modern times.
Napoleon III appeared IN history as
the heir and the successor OF man
| nf whom il was said she has cast a
doubt upon all past glory and MAGE
all future renown impossible. by the
very name which he bore he inevitably
ichailenped a comparison which coulo
never be to his advantage. 10 the
idolators of his uncle he was pygmy
treadinp in the footsteps OF titan.
To those to whom the whole bona
partist tradition was abhorrenS ne
embodied ali the vices, without pos.
SeSS1ng any or tnS genius, VI euS
Napoleon. And yet this man. who has
been denounced both as a weakling
and as q villain, was neither.
Mr. GuedaIla gives proof Of rare in-
sight in his portrayal Of his complex
chsracter in -,-,.n', the ndventurer and
oalist were 80 strangely blended.
He has grasLe4 s4.e IacG tnat the true
explanation OF Napoleon III's career
lay in his profound and unshakabie
belief in his own destiny. For Ma
poieon III was man whose entire life
was controlled by a single motive. He
had before him always the memory OF
his uncle, the lieutenant of artillery
who mounted the throne Of ChaS
lemagne, and ia his heart was the co%
viction that it was decreed that hA
should rule over France. 1t was q
faith which never forseok him through
out all the vicissitudes Of his life,
which sustained him in prison and In
exile and led him finally to the Palace
Of the Tuileries.
The history Of Napoleon Iii affords
the strange spectacle OF man who
was ruined By tho accomplishment Of
his aims. MI. Guedalla has summed up