Evening star., 1925-05-29

Few books have been written will
more gusto than H. A. Taine's His
tory of English Literature" The high
| relish Of the author is communicates
to the reader, even though a transla
tion intervenes.
This zestful enjoyment of the sub
ject by the writer makes the issuance
of new edition Of this old favorite
an event for all who love English lit.
erature beyond that of any other ma
ton.
No one can read Taine in the four
volume edition just published by AL
bert and Charles Boni, New York
without feeling a greater respect anC
love for the immortal line of English
authors.
This Frenchman was one of the
great Appreciators. Despite the fact
that his method of criticism was no,
without flaws, and his judgment some
times marred by too violent opinions
his work remains standard treatise
upon English literature from Chaucel
to Tennyson.
Published in 1864, the History OF
English Literature" was translated
into English in 1873 by II. van Laur
of Edinburgh. 1t is. therefore, appro
lEdl present cUlIlOn pears
the imprint, Printed in Great Brit
ain" having been set up in the Scotch
city.
The four volumes, of pocket size
contain approximately 400 pages each
and are illustrated with "a photo
graphs Of the great men of English
literature. Those who love books viii
be able to tell. upon taking them up
that they were printed in Great
Britain.
There is a certain "feel'' TO book
made over there that American pub
fishers with all the respect in the
world for them), have never been able
to equal consistently. These small
volumes, for instance, are CAREFUL,
sewed with black and red silk thread
so that the backs do not split" wher
opened.
The paper, though thin, is Opaque, Sc
that one is not forced to read two
sides Of the sheet at once. The type
is large enough and spaced enough q
make comfortable reading This il
particularly important, Of course, in g
work of this length.
The use of the so-called "Old Eng
lish" type for the chapter headings
adds an appropriate touch.
** =
Taine has such a flow of words thai
somehow he reminds one of thai
best and most prolific of modern Eng
ltsh writer's. II. G.. Wells. This French
appreciator of the literature and peo
pies of neighboring country is Sc
in love with his subject that it shine.
forth on every page.
"Gusto,' il seems TO me. is the only
word to describe IL. There is IL
Taine no severe critical restraint, M
dry-as-dust appraisals. He has, fol
| instance, no use for Alexander Pope
and does not mind saying as much
While the reader may have a differen
opinion as to the work of the Twick
enham bard. he cannot help but ad
| mire the enthusiasm with which Taint
| makes out his case.
Throughout the work one finds tha
Taine pursues his theory of English
literature with relentless vigor, which
overflows onto his pages, giving riss
to almost oratorical style.
If any group of people could hav,
the patience to listen to these foul
books read to them by some one with
a good voice and rapid delivery, they
perhaps, would get more out OF i
than by reading it privately.
If there is any group of young mer
| in Washington with such a burning
enthusiasm for English literature a,
| TO try the experiment, it would AFFORD
an instructive Summers work.
Listen to him go on!
"a century and a half had passed
on the Continent since, amid the uni
versal decay and dissolution, new
society had been formed, and new
men had risen up," he says, at th'