The Bookshelf.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 25, 22 June 1910, Page 45

The Bookshelf.

By

DELTA.

BOOKSHELF FEUILLETON. Vtete* H«c« Fillttiaed. THE erection in the garden of the Palais Royal, Paris, of a Rodin monument to Victor Hugo, chief of the French Romantics, has provided Mr Francis H. Gribble, critic, novelist, etc, with an opportunity to pillorise the great French genius, who as not only accused of simultaneously maintaining two separate establishments and a high moral tone, but of inducing his wife to write his life while he was diverting himself in the society of Juliette Drouet, who posed, among his friends and admirers, as Hugo’s “Beatrice.” The greatest thing that Victor Hugo ever did, according to Mr Gribble, was to fasten upon humanity the “Hugo legend,” which means that mingling ol romance, of misrepresentation, of idealisation, that has come down to us as Victor Hugo. The romance of Hugo lies in the fact that he was able without difficulty, and without loss of moral or social status, to pose as the greatest moral romancist France had ever known. “Noble ancestors,” Hugo felt were essential to his sublimity; and as he had none he invented some, giving out that he was a scion of the house of the Hugo’s of [Lorraine, and a great-grandson of Char-les-Hyacinthe Hugo, chevalier, conseillermaitre en la ehambre des comptes deLorraine. Which, says Mr Gribble, is not true, as Victor Hugo’s ancestors have been traced, and there is not a chevalier among them, all being- of pieibian, though respectable origin. Of his mother Victor Hugo said, “That as a poor girl of fifteen she fled to the ibocage and became a brigand (that is, a Vendean insurrectionist), like Madam de Bouchamps and Madam de la Roehe Jacquelein.” It is a romantic story, says Mr Gribble, but there is not a word of truth in it. “Sophie Trebuchet,’’ remained in Nantes from the beginning to the end of the Vendean revolt.

Victor Hugo's Supposed Precocity. Nor is true that Chateaubriand, in the poet’s early days saluted him as “enfant sublime,” amazed by the dazzling splendour of his “Ode on the Death of the Due de Berri.” It was the sort of thing that Chateaubriand ought to have said, but. as a matter of fact, he denied ever having used the words. Hugo invented them as he had invented his ancestors, for his own greater glory. Other charges, more or less sordid are laid to the charge of the author of “Des Miserable?,” “Le Travailietirs de la Mer,’ “The History of a Crime,“ etc., which may or may not be gospel. But it is, Scarcely likely that a writer of Mr Gribble’s reputation would have pillorised a genius of such world wide fame as M. Hugo, without assuring himself of his facts. Nevertheless, though Mr Gribble’s commentary is exceedingly interesting and illuminative reading, we regret keenly that the writer of the three great works above quoted, should be found to possess feet of brass. And as we havealways done, we protest against the pilloriseing of genius, for, so long the work of genius does not bear upon it the signs of the l>east, it is well for posterity to leave the judging of genius to the giver of it. And we are at least positive that more evil comes out of the Taking up of human frailty, than in its decent burial until the day of resurrection when the secrets of all hearts shall ne open. We deplore, greatly, Mr Gribble’s article.

It Never Can Happen Again. “Current Literature” for April has a liighly-eulogistic article on Mr de Morgan’s book, which bears the above title. Mr de Morgan was hailed as the new Dickons when his first book appeared on the Home literary horizon. But a eonCensus of critical -opinion in America places this author on a higher plane than Dickens; and the “Rochester Post Express” insists that he, though he has his defects, has only one living rival—two, “’ost, In the world—that can take (higher place in contemporary literature. It Never Can Happen Again,” we are •old, Is a novel which deserves to find a place beside such English masterpiece* IM "Tom Jones,” “Clarissa Harlowe,”

“The Newcomes” and “Adam Bede”; all of which is pleasant for Mr de Morgan’s countrymen to listen to. But Dickens, contrary to Mr. de Morgan, possessed the power not only to deal with a crowded canvas with such mastery and detachment that each figure stood out distinct and different, though in harmony with the general scheme. Mr de Morgan, though to a great extent his style is modelled upon that of Dickens, will never obtain the vast hearing and following that Dickens had. For, though he -has undoubtedly more culture -than Dickens, he does not possess the key to the affections of the people. Diekens loved the people as no writer ever did, and enjoyed a vogue the like of which no English writer, living or dead, ever had. To read a book by Mr de Morgan is to be surfeited with good things. To read a book by Dickens, also crammed with good things, is to ask “for more.” Three New Books. Three eminently noteworthy books awaiting review, and which have been

favourably noticed by the Home critics, are: “The Greatest Wish in the World,” by E. Temple Thurston (Hodder and Stoughton); “A Certain Rich Man,” by William Alien White (The Macmillan Co.); and “Devious Ways,” by Gilbert Cannan, author of “Peter Homunculus” (Heinemann). Nelson’s Promised Two-shilling Novels. Three of the promised 2/ novels have been issued by Messrs Nelson and Sons, and are now on hand. The binding and printing is much the same as the binding of the 3/6 “Colonial Editions.” First in point of merit comes Mr H. G. Wells’ “History of Mr Polly.” Then comes “Second String,” by Mr Anthony Hope; and “Fortune,” by Mr J. C. Snaith. As the English price is 2/ net, the colonial price will be about 2/6. Those readers Who have fears that either quality or quantity will have been sacrificed need have no further fears, as the reputations of the authors forbid the first, and a mere glance at the books will relieve the other. Songs of the Happy Isles. “Liber,” of the “New Zealand Times,” has a very complimentary notice of Miss Maude Peacock’s little book of poems bearing the above felicitous title. “As to its quality,” says this reliable critic, “it is at once a pleasure and a duty to say that many of the verses are true poetry, not mere clever rhyming; and none are so immature, in either idea or style, as to have merited exclusion; and many there are which are distinctly fresh in both subject and manner.” Mr. Theodore Roosevelt’s Adventurer. Murray’s ore shortly to publish Mr. Roosevelt’s “Adventures in Africa,” as far as the English edition is concerned. It is to be hoped that it will be published at popular prices, since it is bound to attract popular notice. A New Book by Lecas Malet. Though Lucas Malet has erred more than once on the side of a too gross realism, it is impossible to hear of any

new book of her’e without a feeling of pleasurable excitement, if only for the reason that she is a daughter of the late Charles Kingsley, and that sooner or later blood must out. A new book of her’s is shortly to be published by Hutchinson’s, the scenes of which are to be set in France and England. The hero is a young Frenchman, who falls a victim of Dan Cupid, and we understand that out of this lo've complications arise. A Posthumous Novel. The late Marian Crawford’s post-hu-mous novel entitled, “The New Governess,” has been announced by Macmillan and Co., and the colonial edition should shortly be on hand. As a familiar acquaintance with all Marion Crawford’s published fiction, we reiterate, with keen regret, our continued sense of the loss sustained to wholesome fiction by the death of the -wholly estimable author against whom no shaft of scandal has ever been winged.

BITS FROM THE NEW BOOKS.

The Eternal Feminine. “To please women one must adhere to only one.” “Women never come of age; reason irritates them; sentiment guides them.”

“Thoughts and Remembrances,” by Countess Vera de Talleyrand. A Scientific Love Song. “When you were a tadpole and I was a fish. In the I’aleozoie time, And side by side on the ebbing tide We sprawled through the ooze and slime, Or skittered with many a caudal flip Through the depths of the Cambrian fen, My heart was rife with the joy of life, For I loved you even then.” —“Evolution,” by Langdon Smith. Book-buying, “It is in catering for her literary wants that a woman's shopping capacity breaks down most completely. If you have perchance produced a book which has met with some little measure of success, you are certain to get a letter from some lady whom you scarcely know to ■bow to, asking you how it can be got. -She knows the name of the book, its author, and who published it and how to get into actual contact with it is still an unsolved problem to her. You write back pointing out that to have recourse to an ironmonger or a corn-dealer will only entail delay and disappointment, and suggest an application to a bookseller as the most hopeful thing you can think of. In a day or two she writes again: ‘lt is all right; I have borrowed it from your aunt.’ ” —“Reginald in Russia,” by Saki. Privileged. “To be celebrated, of course, covers multitudes of sins.” —“According to Maria," by Mrs. John Lane. Lane. 6/. Beware ! “When a woman prompts you with an answer. beware of it. In the same manner, beware of her.”—“The Greatest Wish in the World,” by E. Temple Thurston. Neat Nomenclature. “The mare is road-shy, with intervals of stolidity, and there is no telling what she will puss and what ahc won’t. We

call her Redford.”— “Reginald in Russia,” by Saki. Love’s Degree. “The worst man loves somebody; the best man loves everybody.”—“Tinsel and Gold,” by Dion Clayton Calthrop. Woman's Estimate of Words. “A a-onian does not resent selfish or even brutal treatment from the man she loves as she resents cold or slighting words; which is also, perhaps, the reason why she is so often indifferent to the plain-spoken man of worth and so easily charmed by the smooth-tongued villain.” —“The Tyrant," by Mrs. de la Pasture.

REVIEWS.

A Marriage Under tbe Terror : Patricia Wentworth. (London: Andrew Melrose. Melbourne: George Robertson and Co. Auckland: Wildman and Arey. Price, 3/6.) This superb story, whose author, Patricia Wentworth, as “Graphic” readers will remember, was deservedly awarded Mr. Andrew Melrose’s best novel prize of 250 guineas, details not only the ghastly and pitiful incidents that led up to the consummation of “A Marriage under the Terror,” but' details also the course of the Revolution, from mid-August, 1792, to July 27, the 9th Thermider in the new 'calendar of the Revolution, a time when France, sick to dementia with the sight and smell of the blood of foes and friends alike, began dimly to realise that' liberty was not license, equality not a pulling down, and fraternity something more than a partnership in injustice, brutality, bestiality, murder, rape and pillage. Miss Wentworth, though she has but touched lightly on the sufferings, mock trial, and execution of Louis Capet and Marie Antoinette, has, while adhering closely to historic fidelity, managed to give not only a darkly romantic and realistic picture of Paris under the Terror, but' has shown us the most salient qualities of the principal leaders of the Revolution, who represented the Girondist, -the Jacobin, and the Cordelier section of -the Commune, and who are known to the student ot French history as Roland, Camille, Desmoulins, marat, Robespierre, Hebert, Foquier. Tinville. and Danton. Miss Wentworth has also made a splendid analysis of the motives that prompted, animated and inspired -these various parties, and describes with wonderful skill the effect of their eloquence upon the mob, who were too drunk with the memories of past wrongs and present sanguineous orgies to discover that they were but the tools of a still greater tyranny. Jacques Dangeau, the book’s hero, was one ot the few leading spirits of the Cordeliers who were animated by a pure patriotism. Of Dangeau it was said that he always carried in his mind “a vision of the ideal State, in the service of which a -race should be trained from infancy to the civic virtues, inflamed with a pure ambition to spend themselves for humanity. He saw mankind, shedding brutishness and self, become sober, law-abiding and just; in a word, he possessed those qualities of vision and faith without which neither prophet nor reformer can influence his generation.” To him the proclamation of the Republic was a matter of only a few weeks, and -then—the golden age. Aline de Roehnmbeau. the heroine, was an aristocratic of aristocrats, forced into a mar.iage with the plebian Dangeau, tor the dual purpose of saving her honour and her life, the former of which was threatened by the attentions of the bestial Hebert, and the latter by the guillotine. How Aline do Rochambeau came to fully recognise that honour and delicacy and nobility of thought, manner and action were not the sole prerogative of her class, is the task Miss Wentworth has essayed, and succeeded so incomparably in. We have not nearly exhausted the point* of interest of “A Marriage under the Terror,” but it would be impossible in the limits of a review to recapitulate the numerous points of interest and attraction that crowd this hook from page to page, and set us puzzling as to whether it is its pathetic yet exal-ted romance, its historic and its human interest, its sternly just, yet sympathetic treatment of its gruesome subject, or the fascinating glamour of its style that has charmed us most. But, in any case, it is a work that will (riant it* author’s feet firmly on the ladder of a high popularity. We have received our copy through the courteav

of Messrs. George Robertson and Co., 107 and 113, Elizabeth-street, Melbourne, who are the publishers of the,colonial edition.

Storm and Treasure : By H. C. Bailey. (London: Methuen and

Co. Auckland: Wildman and Arey, 2/6 and 3/6.) Mr. Bailey’s unassailable position in the realms of fiction as an historical romaneist, and his finished artistry, are too well known to need but brief mention for the benefit of those readers who have not had the felicity of reading any former work of his. For his. present romance, “Storm and Treasure,” lie has transported his readers to La Vendee, and has bid them, in imagination, go back to the days of the French Revolution, and try with his help to put themselves for the nonce in the place of the loyal Vendeens, who, as history records, were the only people who remained loyal, as a whole, to the principles of established monarchy. Not that much imagination will be needed, for Mr Bailey has painted pen pictures of that deeply tragic and pregnant time, with such realistic skill and fidelity that readers will have to pull themselves together to rid themselves of the horrible nausea that some of these pictures provoke. It is somewhat unfortunate, unless one can read “Storm and Treasure” as a pendant to “A Marriage Under the Terror,” that both these books should have fallen to our lot to have reviewed at the same sitting, since, to some extent, the theme is identical. But the only comparison that can be made lies in the difference that must always exist between the feminine and the masculine style. And, as a wholly absorbed and thoroughly sympathetic interest was ours during our reading of both these high romances, we shall, in common gratitude, abstain from expressing anything but the pleasure both these books have afforded us. We confess ourselves wholly delighted with Mr. Bailey’s characterisation of M. de Jan, who stands as a strongly gracious type of the true patriot, and the royalist, faithful to monarchist! principles, but not to the individual wearer of a crown, unless that crown be worn worthily. Mr. Wild and Narcisse Colet puzzled us somewhat at the outset. But in the end we hade adieu to both with keen regret. There are two heroines, and of the two our sympathies are most centred in Lucile Colet, who, if she sinned much, loved more. Mademoiselle Bars-ac is a type of the Vendeen Mesdamcs de Bonehamps and de la Roche Jacquelein. Citizen Durand is another Dangeau, but set in sterner mould. We strongly recommend readers to buy “Storm and Treasure,” and dis ov ;r for themselves the secret of the de .I n treasure, which was afterwards used for the building up of loyal La Vendee, who will be quoted as a •hilling exa inple of loyalty to immortality. We are indebted to Methuen and

Co. for our copy of this distinctive roMance.