The Sun. — 1857-07-30 (London, England)

LITERATURE.  Lucian, Playfair. By Thomai Mackern. 3 vols.  Smil and Elder.  This work is of a peculiar style, and deals with many important questions of social life. Although many may differ from the views expressed, they are brought forward in such a fair and candid manner that they, merit attention and respect. The story is very ingeniousiy arranged. It is romantic, • which contrasts curiously enough with the practical cast of the reflections. The narrative is not very, connected in its several passages—many years are passed over, and the scenes Pnd persons vary ; but that discrepancy suits a work that has more for its object, to give utterance to opinions, than to be the velicle of an amusing legend. A great deal of feeling is displayed in the sketches of human sorrow, sin, and suffering, with which the book abounds. The unhappy poacher, driven by famine to his first misdemeanour, and then hunted like a beast of prey, is naturally represented as sinking lower and lower in the scale, till he consummates his misery, and others cruelty, by suicide. The passage of the pedlar is an exciting one, and a mournful interest is attached to the tale told under the greenwood tree, by the adventurer in some of life's most dreary highways. One point especially referred to in the varied and complicated plo-, is the intrigues of the Jesuits. The wife of Lucian's uncle had escaped from the power of the society, but was re-captured by their arts, and for long weary years did she pine away, at last her son (unknowing their relationship) rescued her from a madhouse, conducted on the old plan, determined to escape from its horrors, he formed his plans and was able to serve his mother. The several scenes of misery which Sylvester had passed through are graphically depicted, and exhibit horrors of a sadder kind than actual want, however distrts4ng, or sickness however heavy. The evils here tre Lted of refer to the gloomiest epochs of existence, the interior of the gaol, the rec-ss, s of, the madhouse—a darker night than that of the grave enshrouds their chronicles. Clement Maine is a worthy and upright character ; men like him are shining lights in their generation, and when called away,. their memory remains bright and lasting, as is forcibly deland by the writer in telling of his last moments. Tne reader who de-, sires occupaton for his mind, as well as entertainment for his fancy, will not be disappointed in " Lucian Play fair."  Leonora D'Orco. .ghistorical romance. By G. P. R. James, author of "Darnley," " The  Gipsey," &c. '3 vols. Newby. This indefetiga,ble writer, who has contributed so largely to the euterta'nment of r, aders of fiction, has added another work to the list of his literary labours, It is with pleasure that we find in this novel a considerable improvement on the last, and though not equalling some of his earlier achievements, it is superior to many of his later novel. He has selected the epoch of Charles the Eighth's invasion of Naples, and mingles French and Italian, the gay soldier and the cunning politician, in continual variety. His heroine is an Italian lady, the dauditer of Ramiro D'Orco an ambitious and not very scrupulous Italian politician of that day. His hero is Lorenzo Visconti, a descendant of the rulers of the Milanese, though at the epoch of the story the Duchy had passed 'from their hands. The love tale has all the proper ingredients of romance, and its course is not at all a smooth one, for though the prospects of the lovers are at fiat most auspicious, the chances of war, and the treachery of a revengeful [talian, seperate them during sears of sorrow and estrangeincnt. This part of the work is told with the skill of a practised novelist, and the talents of the writer as a historical romancist are well known to his readers. Many of the names will be familiar to the reader of history, Caesar Borgia, Ludovic the Moor, the young Chevalier Bayard, and many other actors in these stormy scenes. The history of the Italian States during the middle ages furnish almost unlimited opportunities to the romancist, in their perpetual strifes, rebellious plots and factions, and the dark records of treachery and violence which sullied the names of the wisest statesmen and the bravest soldiers. Mr. James knows well how to use such materials to advantage, and has chosen a field well calculated to display his powers. His last romance, it will be remembered, was of the time of the American war, but it is in the older days of history, in the delineation of the intrigues of powerful courts and the feats of pretax chevaliers that he is most successful. We are glad to find him producing a work, which will not diminish his reputation.