Year: 1866

us sue SHOWS fnuCu rs IN iOImeI
novels in working up her materials to suit the taste Of
the day Surprising events rushing upon the other
startling inc dents that would the hair stand end
if one could believe he and the greatest disregard to
the and experience of the world characte:
rze this ladys writings. Novels Of this sort called
works OF imagination and certainly that term peculiarly
applicable to sWhat is this Myserys' for II is nothing
else but imagination She rivals Eugene Sue in extrava.
giant sensation only there is this dierenccSue can find
veritable materials For foundation In the Paris
and French life he processes 70 depict whereas no one
heard Of such things English that she do.
scribcs No witnessed such a masked ball In
London as she describes in which the nobility figure
such an extraordinary manner As to the society Of the
Black Band, with its grand MASTER numbering society
"a which of the Oldest and richest families OF the
nobiiirac associated with the lowest villains that Is
too unreal ana 2reposercus to impose upon even the
mos. IGNORANT Yet risis the foundation OF the whole
work Around this all the incidents cluster and
are connected Bertrand, the grand master Of this
Black Band wIo Is the real hero OF the story Is scoun
dre OF the deepest dye lowest motives and basest asso
catons yet he has the ee to the highest and proudes
families OF England The most charming character is q
London ballet girl The whole work Is too extravagant
for criticism.


Miss Braddon has ready command OF words, though





great is in fertile invention and cpIgram-
matte STYLE in enlisng the attention Of the reader
and keeping in state Of surprise and expecta-
tion and in the light and agreeable arrangement of her
matter Her works belong to the evanescent literature
Of the day, and will not survive the test OF time.


BOOTH MEMoRIALs-PAssAGEs, INCIDENTS. AND


ANECDOTES, IN THE LIFE or JUNIUs BRUTUs


Booth, THE ELDER. BY His Daughter. Carle.


ton





think unfortunate and cmincntly suggestive OF terrible
events We have said before with regard members Of
tho Booth family that they showed exceeding bad taste
to the least in pushing themselves forward before
the American public, while the dreadful crime in
modern times committed by OF their nearest rea-
tlvcs fresh in the memory OF the people, yes almost
before the body OF the dead chief magistrate
Is cold in the grave. We do not recur to
this with any disposition Of impugnng the character
motives Of the Booth family, and give them credit for
all they say about their adherence of great crime
Nor have any desire TO recall such painful circum.
stance but II tho authorcss herself has thought proper
in the introduction to her book allude TO tho son
who has dishonored the family name she blame
for not ignoring it, II the family does not let the
event alluded to sink into oblivion how thcy expect
others do 50? We not resist the suspicion that
there Is q desire to make money out of the sad
notorety given the OF Booth. At all events,
every right thinking person will conclude that
the public appearance Of the members OF this
family, whether on the stage authors of
Booth Memorials" is in very bad taste at this time
We say this in unkind feeling and only spirit Of
just criticism for willingly admit that the surviving
members Of the family condemn the fearful deed OF one
OF its MEMBERS


As to tho book ITSELF II is neat little volume con.
tanning anecdotes and "reminiscences OF OF the best
and most remarkable actors that appeared upon the
stage or the ia hand Of daughter could only
dclineatc the bright side OF fathers character II
could not be expected that this would be complete and
faithful biography, for all have their weaknesses
daughter would naturally touch very lightly those
OF her father. However, the book will be found inter-
cstng for its anecdotes and incidents Of lf especially
to people of the theatrical profession.


HIsroRY OF JULIUs CAESAR. Volume 2. The


Wars in Gaul. Harper x Brothers.


The first volume OF the 'Tire Of Cesar made US
acquainted with the character OF the work, Its merits
both In literary and historical point Of vew and the
apparent object OF tho imperial author There few
persons in the literary world or among the reading por
ton OF the public, that have read il with moro or
loss attention. for the fact itself that Napoleon the Third
had written book-a History OF julius Casar-wns
enough TO insure readers in all parts of the
world. Tho work has been ably and extensively re-
viewed from different points Of view, according to the
impenalis arisocratic democratic bias OF the
viewers. We do not propose TO enter upon the task of
labored criticism either Of the work sclf Of the
opinions of critics. and shall only make few general
remarks on the character and design of the book.


That man occupying the elevated position Of tho
author and absorbed by tho weghty affairs OF State,
should step from his throne to take up the pen OF his
torian may well appear surprising True, there
few examples royal authorship In history, but
peror king, perhaps ever undertook such n work
under the daily weight OF other labors which Napoleon
had to bear He has undoubtedly used the labor OF
ohors TO great extent In the collection OF acs and In
the preparation Of his many valuable notes and refer
cnces and probably also In the compilation Of the text
He had all the talent of France and much Of the rest Of
the world at his command, and there no necessity
that he should perform great deal Of the labor sim
the hand Of Napoleon in the composition, parcu
lariy in the comments and historical parallels. Hc,
at least, dictated all . larger portion Of
the work, and gave II the finishing touch. The
second volume ends nos with the death OF Caesar.
but with the crossing Of the Rubicon. Although a
short period elapsed between that event and tnsArs
eaih and although that the eliminating point Of
his history and Of the struggle OF factions which gave
him the ascendency the events which followed up 70
the time Of his death full Of interest We led to
ask therefore, whether may expect continuation OF
tho history, tho signature Of Napoleon Al the end q
thc second volume that the work is complete


While tho style is not grandly ponderous striking
that Of Gibbon ornamental and ncw.
ing Nacauleys there conclsencss and clearnes n


avery appropriate 20 historical writing We 80 sothins
Of the Dcphic oracle siyle, with double ambiguous
meaning which characserxcs the political usssancss Of
thc Emperor. Mt#


Ths object Of the work evidently more political Va
give strength the Napoleon dynasty tnaa FOR shs E
peror 70 acquire fame as historian Thcugh shs his
leu y nads W villa skil and NJ fAe,s sescavslz