THE LATE PROFESSOR DOWDEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15736, 12 April 1913, Page 5

THE LATE PROFESSOR DOWDEN

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —A cable message of the last few days shows that we have to add to tvie list of lanious dead scholars the name of I'roiessor Jidward Dowden. He was born at Cork m lb4o, and was educated at Queen's College, (Joi'K, and at Trinity College, Dublin. He won many distinctions as a student,, and in 1867 he was elected to the position with which his name has ever since been honourably identilied—the ProfeasorJaip of Jinglish Literatures in the University of Dublin. His first book, "Shakespeare: His Mind and Art," give him a loreniost place anions critics and Shakespearian scholars; and it was translated into several European languages. His " Shakespeare Primer" \1817) b the best known, and has probably been the most useful of all his books. His other works are too numerous to be mentioned in detail: but, in addition to his authoritative " Life of Shelley " (1886), the following are tho most important :—" Studies in Literature" (1878), "Transcripts and Studies" (1888), " New Studies in Literature" (1895), "The French Revolution in English Literature " (1897), and " Puritan and Anglican" (1900). In 1880 Professor Dowden contributed a sympathetic study of Southcy to John (now Viscount) Morlcy's admirable English Men of Letters Series. Professor Dowden also wrote extensively on French and German literature. He was a great admirer and interpreter of Goethe; and, in 1888, he was 1 appointed president of the English Gcethe Society in succession to Professor Max Mnllcr. Dowden made numerous literary discoveries, some of them of great value. Ho was elected the first Taylorian Lecturer at Oxford, in 1899; and from 1W to 1896 l.c acted as Clark Lecturer at Trinity College, Cambridge The value of his work was recognised by many universities. Ho was a Litt. D. of Dublin University, an LL.D. of Dublin, Edinburgh, and Princeton, and a D.C.L. of Oxford. Of nil Dowden's books, his first, " Shakespeare's Mind and.Art," c is, I believe, the most valuable. ' Of all'the hundreds of books that havo been written on Wnakeqieare, there is none moro illuminative or moro really helpful than this volume. The Germans have published many works of great learning on Shakespeare: but not a, few of them aro characterised by oversubtlety, the special snnro of tlio German intellect Ulrici's book, e.g., reads into Shakespeare's plays many of tho doctrines of tho Hegelian philosophy. Dowden knew the works of nil tho German commentators. Unliko many of these books, Dowden's " Shakespeare's Mind and Art" is an eminently sane awl woll-Manced book. Many books on Shakespeare nro helpful; but for thoso whose time for study is limited, I' reoommend, abovo all others, Dowdon s " Shakespeare's Primer,". his " Shakespeare's Mind and Art," and Sidney Lees "Lifo of Shakespeare." Most important of nil, of course (although this is often forgotten in our age, which is rather an ago of learning and criticism than of grent original creation), is to read, study, and enjoy Shakespeare's plays themselves.—l am, o tc„ . Thomas Ouray. University of Otngo, April 8.