LITERATURE OF 1911.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1366, 17 February 1912, Page 11

LITERATURE OF 1911.

t. r- Fi J': C'ourfupy thus reviews the books of 1911 in the London "Daily Telegraph :—lt is not very easy to.say. which class of books m the past twelve months M to ,be selected as the most conspicuous and most successful; ,for it has been a good average year, and most of tho departments of literature have been fully and adequately represented. But we shall not go far wrong;, I think, if we choose the department of biography and history the .most satisfactory of all. A year or two ago ire were deluged by a number oi biographies absolutely devoid*of construction, mere collections of promiscuous correspondence, very lengthy and very tmeditying. But the biographies 'of ,1911 nave been literary works,, indicating a good deal o-f selcctivo skill oil tho part of their editors, and telling us exactly what we want to know about the subjects of the memoirs. Nothing, for instance oould be much better than "The Life of Spencer Compton, Eighth Duke of Devonshire," by, Mr. Bernard Holland, an admirable piece of work, which ought to find a place on the bookshelves'of every politician. Side by side with thil wo can place "The Memoirs and letters of Sir Eobert Moricr," edited by his daughter, find "Tho Life of Georgia Joachim Gosclien," by the Hon. Arthur D. Elliot. These two are works which every student of affairs to have retiuy to his hand, for they a/Ford sidelights on history, all the more valuable because they are unpremeditated.

_ The "Life of R-uskin," by E. T. Cook, is another admirable biography, composed by a man who knows more about his subject, probably, than any other living Englishman, and who has been joint editor with Mr. Wedderburn in a library edition of the works of tho Master. - In lighter vein are tho "Autobiographic Memoirs" of Frcderie Harrison; "fteminiscenccs," by Goldwin Smith; and "The Record of an Adventurpus Life," by H. M. Hyndtnan. . In. tho department of history proper/..thcr®. aro' several -good books to bo noticed, ' but especially, ?erhaps, "Garibaldi- and the Making of tiL'v,' by Mr. G. M.. Trevelyan; "Tho Lifo and Times of Cavour," by Mr. William Roscoe Thayer; Mr. H. A. L. Fisher's excellent book; "The Republican Tradition in Europe"; and the second volume of "The Hanoverian Queens of England," by Alice D. Greeawood. , FICTION. Very different views will probably bo entertained of the valuo and importance of, the novels of 1911. -On the whole, tho past twelve months have been productive of vory interesting work, even though there may bo a division of opinion between those who are enthusiastic about the most modern specimens of psychological romance and those, who aro content with the older idea, that the novelist should tell a "rattling good story." In the first class there is no doubt which is the outstanding novel of the year. Jt is "The Now Mnchiavelli," by Mr. H. G. Wells, a pioneer work of its kind, which in its variety of topic and breadth of treatment, together with its keen psychological insight, is probably the highest achievement that Mr. Wells has hitherto reached. In the same class must bo placed the second instalment of Mr. Arnold Bennett's triology, which ho, calls "Hilda Leeways." not. perhaps, quite as good 4s "Clavhanger." but still a very remarkable study of the feminine temperament, carried but with all that patient analysis which, marks both modern playwright and the modem novelist. "Tho Patrician," too, by Mr. John Galsworthy, is heartily to bo welcomed, and so, in a> different fashion, is !fr. Joseph Conrad's "Under Western Eyes." Mr. Conrad is one of tho most vigorous and most original of our modern writers, and eaon

I contribution ho makes to literature has qualities of its own which always cuIsure tho most careful attention from com- ! petent critics'. , ■ Mrs. -Humphry Ward has contributed a lino ami distinguished piec© of work in "Tho Case of/ Richard • Meynell," while Lucas Malet, not quito so happy 'as Usual either in, her themo or her treatment, has, nevertheless, mado. a considerable addition to the novclistie output of the year by her careful piece of work', "Adrian Savage.": There nro one or'two other romances which..well deserve to be chronicled. Thero is "Margaret Harding," by Mr. Perceval Gibbon, a striking novel ; there is ''Xante," by. Anne Douglas Sedgwick; there is "The' Fruitful Vine," by Mr; Robert Hichens—not, perhaps, quite up to his usual standard. And there is one little book, by Mrs. Kdit.li Wharton, entitled, "Ethan Fr'ome," whicli. in its way, is a masterpiece. "The Outcry,", •by' Mr. Henry James, is. a good specimen of the author's peculiar and interesting style, as is also, in a very different category, "Tho Song of Kenny." by Mr. .Maurico Hewlett. Mrs. -Belloc Lowndes's "Jane Oglander," Miss R, Macanla.v's "The Valley" Captives." Miss Violet. Hunt's "The Doll." Mr. Ford Mndox Ilucffer's "Ladies Whose Bright Eyes," and Mr.' Robert Herriclc's "The Healer," afford sufficient evidence that,our writers of romance have not only been busy, "but suocessful in their industry.

POETRY AND BELLES LETTERS. Probably there are few poems recently published which have been more talked about than "The Everlasting Mercy," by ; Mr., John Masefield. It is a fine and; masterful study, carried out, not • only .with; unfailing vigour, but -with true poetic feeling,. and quite sufficient by itself, to establish the claims of Mr. Masefield.to a conspicuous seat on Parnassus. The only thing with l which it can be compared is Mr. George Bernard Shaw's prose poem, "The Showing-up of Blanco Posnet," which during the past year has appeared, together with "The _ Doctor's Dilemma," and "Getting Married," in one of the volumes of Mr. Sliaws collected plays... Mr. G. K. Chesterton's higli- - spirited '-'poem,' "The Ballad of the. White Horse," r.will probably add to tho circle of his admirers, while "Emblems of Love," by .Mr. Lascejle.s Abercombie, makes the world acouninted with a new and striking poet. "The War God," by Mr. Israel Zangwill, is another extremely vigorous piece of work, full alike of thought and, dramatic power; while the Collected Poems of Mr. Herbert Trench and of Mr. Alfred Noyes preserve in our grateful recollection what we owe to both of those distinguished singers. The department of criticism shows nothing better than those "Lecture.s on Poetry" which were delivered by Mr. J. W. Maclcail when he was Professor of Poetry in tho University of Oxford; and to these we ought certainly to'add'Mr. W. Ridgeway's striking study on "The Origin of Tragedy." • "The French Ideal," by Madame Duclaux, is an exceedingly pleasant book to read, while Mr. Edward Gordon Craig on "The Art of the Theatre," gives us a piquant, if rather bewildering, essay. Mr. Frank Harris's "The Women of Shakespeare" is a further instalment of that criticism of the Elizabethan dramatist which identifies his creative work with some of the snpDossd incidents and romances of his life. . THE GENERAL CHOIR. There are a number of books produced during the last twolvo months which are difficult to classify, but whicli are serious and important contributions to the literature of the year. '"Seems So! A Working-class View of Politics," is ono of these." Its authors are Stephen Reynolds and Bob and Tom Woolley.' The charm and interest'of the work lie'in the fact that the authors expound a point of . view which is not generally much recognised—tho untutored opinions of the labouring class on difficult social and political problems. "Tho Village Labourer, 1760 to 1832," by, J. L. Hammond and Barbara Hammond, must be put in tho same category, a careful and erudite study in the government of England before the Reform Bill. Theological and philosophical works abound. We may mention "Mysticism," Miss Evelyn Underbill's study of the nature and development of man's spiritual consciousness, a work of profound/interest; "Some Problems of the K6vk'i.bfi'Prpf^ssi)r,i Bergson on "Lauijljfep.v; ism." by 13. V. Arnold; "i he Two 'lleli-' gions of Israel,", by-Professor T, K.Cheyne; and that ■ much ; talked-of work I which fluttered the dovecotes' of Magdalen College, - Oxford, "Miraclte -in;. New Testament," by the Ret, J.' M. ; Thompson. /Amongst books of travel thero are nothing belter than Fridtjof. Nansen's "In Northern. Mists," " and E. D. Morel's "Nigeria, Its Peoples and Its Problems." On' the whole, it is a good' ftcord which 1011 gives us, and one which shows an equal distribution of excellence through most of the different departments ot literary work. What the future has in store for us it would be rash to prophesy, but wc may feel pretty ... certain that'next year will see a remarkable development "in the general scope and comprehensive interest of novels. Mr. H. G. Wells has hinted as much, in a recent remarkable article on "The Future of the Novel," and what Mr. 'Wells prophesies is. thanks'to the in/lnence he wields over all or most modern writers, only too likely to take place.