14 July, 1900. PRIZE COMPETITIONS. 98 77 25 420 44 Eliot, George, Letter by, to Dr. Alexander Main 381 Elsinore, Shakespeare's Choice of, in "Hamlet 156 "Eversley" Shakespeare, The... FitzGerald, Edward, Notes for a Bibliography of France, M. Anatole, The Literary Character of Fraser's (Miss Grace) "Tau'ological Tale" Freytag's (Herr Gustav) Advice to Wou'd-be Girtin, Thomas, Mr. Laurence Binyon's Study of 380 Gissing. Mr. George, Miss Findlater's Tribute to 400 Godkin, Mr. E. L., and his Critics ... Gwynn, Mr. Stephen, on Anthony Trollope. on the Training of Children 381 Hardy's (Thomas) "The Souls of the Slain" 263 Novelists' Mistakes in Dealing with Foreign Novels, The Best Twenty of the Last Ten Years 379 Paris Exhibition, Collection of British Books at... 265 Paul's (Mr. Howard) Defence of Macaulay... Peacock's (Wadham) Story of the Inter-University THE LAST OF 10,000 SETS. The UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESS of the "Library of Famous Literature" Leaves less than 4,500 Sets to be sold at the Present Prices and Terms. IF YOU WISH TO SECURE THE LIBRARY AT A REDUCTION OF ONE-HALF IN THE PRICE YOUR ORDER MUST BE SENT NOW. (The entire 20 Handsome Volumes may be had now upon the Preliminary Payment of Half-a-Guinea.) The success of The Standard's issue of THE LIBRARY OF FAMOUS LITERATURE has been the distinguishing feature of the year in books. Of such a work, indeed, much might naturally have been expected. Under the general editorial supervision of Dr. Garnett, C.B., and representing the collaboration of many of the most distinguished living men of letters, this remarkable attempt to compact the best of the World's literature into twenty handy and convenient volumes could not have resulted otherwise than in a most notable book. The astonishing number of advance subscriptions which have been received under the special offer made by The Standard revealed that it was a timely work as well. The more than 5,500 advance subscriptions represent a total of more than 110,000 large royal octavo volumes. It is certain that such an advance sale was never before known in England. The Standard can offer but 10,000 sets of The Library upon the present prices and terms. This means that less than 4,500 sets now remain, and in view of the heavy bookings of the last two weeks, it is clear that the entire number will be taken before another month is out. Readers of The Academy, therefore, who wish to take advantage of the present opportunity should send in their orders at once, accompanied either by cheque in full, or a preliminary payment of 10s. 6d. Meanwhile, intending subscribers will read with interest a few letters selected from the mail of the past few days. WHAT SOME EARLY SUBSCRIBERS SAY. Nothing but Praise. Bank Hall, Burnley, Lancashire, Dec. 18th, 1899. I have received the twenty volumes of the "International Library of Famous Literature." For the type, illustrations, aud binding there can be nothing but praise-they are all one can wish. The chief value of the new issue to one who already possesses a fair library seems to me to be in the variety and clever selection of the literary fare. One reads a specimen of some hitherto neglected author with an admiration that prompts one to further study his work and style. Without such an introduction (so to speak) the acquaintance would never have been made. J. O. S. THURSBY. Its Comprehensive Range. The Mause, Manchester, Dec. 18, 1899. "The Library of Famous Literature fulfils my most sanguine anticipations. In some directions I regard it as superior even to Mr. Charles D. Warner's splendid collection of masterpieces, and I observe throughout its volumes many signs of Dr. Garnett's unrivalled erudition and fine discrimination. I am especially impressed with the comprehensive range of the work. It contains many lesser literary stirs too generally neglected, such as Jones Very, Miss Guiuey, Runeberg, and that wonderful Hindoo poetess Toru Dutt. REV. WILLIAM A. SIM. No Better Reading for the Young. Parkhill House, Ewell, Epsom, Dec. 16, 1899. On opening my volumes of the "Library of Famous Literature," I was extremely pleased and gratified at the sight of the handsome books, the beautiful paper, illustrations, fine large type, and very handsome binding The subject matter being the chief thing, however. I can only say I should like to shake by the hand all those eminent men who-making it a labour of love-have succeeded in selecting choice gems from real literature since thinking and writing began. To that parent who can afford it, what greater pleasure could be given than by presenting the set of books to a lad, telling him at the same time that, wherever he opens a volume, or whatever piece he reads, he may be assured he is reading choice matter and style that has stood the test of time or severe criticism, and to the originals of which he may cue to go in after life. A compilation such as this may also create a love of beautiful thought and expression, and at the same time counteract the reading of the crude and wretched stuff that is read by the majority now, I fear. FRANK MARSHALL. Special Offer. Those who subscribe now, in advance of publication, may obtain the Complete Work, Twenty Volumes, at a REDUCTION OF 50 PER CENT. FROM THE REGULAR PRICES. The entire Twenty Volumes will be sent, all at one time, upon a preliminary payment of but HALF-A-GUINEA; further payments, after the twenty volumes are in your home, to be at the rate of 9, 12, 15, or 21 shillings per month, according to the binding chosen. A Handsomely Illustrated Prospectus If you will state that you read this notice in "THE ACADEMY," "THE STANDARD" will send, post paid to any address, a large, illustrated Prospectus of the LIBRARY OF FAMOUS LITERATURE, together with specimen pages, from the index and the like. But those who prefer to file their subscriptions at once, and thus take advantage of the Special Prices, which are offered in advance of the day of publication, may examine the work, in the different styles of biding, at "The Standard" Office, 23, St. Bride Street, near Ludgate Circus; and at the establishment of Messrs. Chappell and Co., Pianoforte Manufacturers, 50, New Bond Street, where orders may be booked, Of Wonderful Value. Royston, Hassocks, Sussex, Dec. 13, 1899. I am highly delighted with my books, which are undoubtedly W. F. JAMESON, M.A., Trinity College, Cambridge. Minster National School, North Ramsgate. I am delighted with the " Library of Famous Literature." It Charmed with the Illustrations. Far and Beyond my Expectations. both for Cash Payments and on Monthly Instalments. TASTEFUL, CONVENIENT, INEXPENSIVE. The Finest Anthology in Existence. Junior Reform Club, Liverpool. I have received the International Library,' and am very much pleased with it. The range is great, and being spread over many centuries and countries, brings to us messages from the wise and great of remote ages and of far-distant climes. The "International Library" is, in my opinion, the finest anthology in existence. In my youth I was familiar with Charles Knight's "Half Hours with the Best Authors." I trust that I may not be considered ungrateful to Knight when I say that his anthology was solemn, stodgy and dull. Afterwards I bought "Illustrated Readings." edited by Tom Hood (Secundus), and published by Cassell & Co., in the late sixties. This was a most helpful and interesting work, in two volumes, and it put me on the track of 30me really good literature. Then I became the possessor of the "Casquet of Literature" in six volumes. This was also a most excellent work, and, indeed, has not been eclipsed, except by the "International Library." The General Index at the end of your twentieth volume is exceedingly useful. The books are handsomely bound, the paper and type clear and beautiful, and the price is very low. The reading public ought to be very grateful to Dr. Garnett and his colleagues. THOMAS WHITE. Will Prove Invaluable. Iveralmond, Crammond, Dec. 20. I have looked over several of the volumes of the "Library of Famous Literature," and am more than pleased with them. I feel certain that to men who have little spare time for readGEORGE D. MACKAY. ing they will prove invaluable. A Good Companion for a Leisure Hour. 105 and 106, Strand, London, W.C., Dec. 10. Apart from its great value as a record of the literature of the world, it will certainly be a good companion for a leisure hour, more particularly because the examples of the various Authors' works selected are in themselves so very complete. WALTER EMDEM. Fully Satisfied with the Library. 2. Rosenthorpe Road, Nunhead, De. 19 We are fully satisfied with them, although our expectations were very high. Thank you very much. JOHN J. THOMPSON. THE SPECIAL BOOKCASE. For the convenience of subscribers to the "Library of Famous Literature," and in response to many inquiries, "The Standard" has made arrangements to purchase, at a wholesale price, several thousand bookcases, specially made to contain the twenty volumes of the Library." The bookcase will be twenty inches in width and about three feet in height, the twenty volumes of the Library being disposed on two shelves, the lower one raised about eight inches from the floor. The bookcase will be sent to the subscriber flat, and can be put together in five minutes. Under this arrangement the cost of carriage is reduced to a minimum. By the purchase of several thousand of these bookcases in bulk, "The Standard" is enabled to offer them, to subscribers to the Library only, at the very low price of 18s. 6d., carriage to be paid by the purchaser. Subscribers on the monthly payment plan, who desire to pay for the bookcase when their payments for the Library are completed, may make arrangements to that effect by writing to "The Standard." As the number of bookcases is limited, application should be made at once, with cheque enclosed. W. THACKER & CO.'S MACMILLAN'S NEW BOOKS. Now ready at the Libraries and Booksellers' in Town and Country EDITION DE LUXE OF THE WORKS OF WHYTE-MELVILLE. Illustrated by HUGH THOMSON, G. H. JALLAND, EDMUND CALDWELL, C. E. BROCK, BERNARD PARTRIDGE, and others. Edited by the Right Hon. Sir HERBERT MAXWELL, Bart., M.P. Demy 8vo, handsomely bound, with gilt tops. Printed from new type, on hand-made deckle-edged paper, specially made for this Edition. Price, Vols. 1.-XIII., £6 16s. 6d. Each volume contains a Coloured Frontispiece on II.- Katerfelto. Illustrated by G. H. JALLAND. and H. M. BROCK. VI.-M. or N. Illustrated by C. E. BROCK. WELL. IX.-Black, but Comely. H. M. BROCK. Illustrated by X.-The Brooks of Bridlemere. Illustrated by FREE ROE. XI.-The White Rose. Illustrated by H. BIRD. XII.-Roy's Wife. Illustrated by CECIL ALDEN. XIII.-Satanella. Illustrated by G. H. JALLAND. Royal 8vo, cloth gilt, 30s. not. THE IMPERIAL RUSSIAN By FRED. T. JANE, Author of "All the World's Fighting Ships," &c. With 160 Illustrations from Sketches and Drawings by the Author, and from Photographs. [Shortly. LIBRARY OF ... ENGLISH CLASSICS UNDER the above title Messrs. MACMILLAN & CO., LIMITED, propose to issue reprints of various STANDARD WORKS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE for which they believe there is a demand, printed from large type, in demy 8vo volumes, and sold in cloth at the uniform price of 38. 6d. net per volume. The books will contain neither new Introductions nor new Notes, the idea being to present typographically perfect reprints of the best existing texts. In deciding the question as to which is the best edition to reproduce, the publishers have been fortunate in obtaining the assistance of Mr. A W. POLLARD, Hon. Sec. of the Bibliographical Society, and beyond a bibliographical note to each book from his pen, the Series will contain no fresh editorial matter. The aim of the publishers will be to give complete and accurate texts, so that lovers of English Literature may have the opportunity of possessing the works of their favourite writers in a form at once handsome and inexpensive, and printed in the demy Bro size, which has A SUMMER IN HIGH ASIA. always been regarded as most suitable for the study of a private Medium 8vo, cloth extra, 12s. 6d. net. gentleman, and for the shelves of a Public Library. The publishers hope that if the Series meets with the support they anticipate for it, it may eventually run to a considerable number of volumes, but they do not pledge themselves to bring out more than the twenty-five volumes mentioned below, all of which, however, will appear during the year 1900. The following is a list of the first twenty-five volumes of the Series:BACON'S ESSAYS; COLOURS FIELDING'S TOM JONES. WHITE'S NATURAL HISTORY 1 vol. of SELBORNE. BOSWELL'S LIFE of JOHN SON. 3 vols. MALORY'S MORTE DARTHUR. DE QUINCEY'S CONFESSIONS 2 vols. DON QUIXOTE, Translated by Shelton. 3 vols. of an ENGLISH OPIUM EATER; MURDER as a FINE ART; THE ENGLISH MAIL COACH, and other Essays. 1 vol. WALTON'S LIVES and COM. LOCKHART'S LIFE of SCOTT PLETE ANGLER. 1 vol. 5 vols. THE WORKS of LAURENCE CARLYLE'S FRENCH REVO STERNE. 2 vols. LUTION. 2 vols. MACMILLAN & CO., LIMITED, London. A Weekly Review of Literature and Life. No. 1444. Established 1869. The Literary Week. 6 January, 1900. THE scheme for a Pension Fund for Authors put forth this week by the Society of Authors presents noble outlines. The proposed fund is intended to supplement the operations of the Royal Literary Fund, which grants only donations, and the Civil List pensions, which amount to only £400 a year and are still somewhat capriciously granted. The first thing to be noted about the Society of Authors' project is that it aims to establish a pension fund for authors, to be supported by authors themselves, not by appeals to the public. Other points are these: The fund will be utilised for pensions only. The pensions given will not be less than £30 or more than £100 per annum. Candidates for pensions must have attained the age of sixty years. For other details of this admirable scheme we refer our readers to the January number of the Author. IBSEN's new play, "When We who are Dead, Awaken," will be shortly issued in ten different languages. Meanwhile the Daily News explains that the play opens in the grounds of a sanatorium in the north of Norway. Prof. Rubek and his wife (Fru Maia) are discovered talking. They have been married five years, and the conversation discloses that they have grown tired of each other. He is elderly and distinguished: she young and lively. She complains that he has not fulfilled his promise to take her with him up a high mountain and show her all the world's grandeur." To them enter a third character (there are only four in the play), a hunter of "eagles, wolves, women, elks, and reindeer." To him the professor's wife falls a prey. They go hunting together, which gives the professor an opportunity of renewing acquaintance with a lady who has been haunting the hotel grounds. That is the bare outline of the plot. Price Threepence. [Registered as a Newspaper.] IN opening the new Free Library at Acton, on Wednesday, Mr. Choate, in a delightful speech, explained to his hearers how "travelling libraries are worked in America. These libraries, each consisting of one hundred books, are sent round to outlying villages and into remote districts where stationary libraries do not exist. Mr. Choate added that he did not know whether any parts of Great Britain were so remote as to need such an institution, but he commended the utility of the system. Undoubtedly there are remote parts in England (some within thirty miles of London) which need the travelling library. What is more, some get it. Travelling libraries for English villages were organised six years ago by Mr. Stead, and have been made successful and self-supporting. Nor did Mr. Stead claim originality for his idea. Such libraries had already an existence in Hampshire and Yorkshire. MRS. M. L. GWYNN's Birthday Book, just published by Messrs. Methuen, unfortunately does not appear to be free from error. Last week we quoted four lines from Chaucer that Mrs. Gwynn has printed upon her titlepage. The quotation, which our printer copied exactly as it is printed in the Birthday Book, has drawn the following remonstrance from Prof. Skeat: "May I be allowed to draw attention to a quotation from Chaucer given in the ACADEMY, December 30, 1899, at p. 760? It appeared in the following form, as a quotation from some compilation: Out of the oldë fieldës, as men sayeth, Cometh all this new corne from yere to yere ; It seems piteous that such fine lines should be so surprisingly misspelt. It would seem that Middle English is an unknown language; no one would dream of treating Latin or Greek or German after this sort. It is marvellous, moreover, how anyone could imagine that such lines can scan. The utterly shocking errors, ruining the metre, occur in the use of 'new' for the dissyllabic newe; 'corne' for the monosyllabic corn; 'yere' for the monosyllabic yeer in the former of the two instances; 'faithe' for the monosyllabic faith (better feith); and again, the form 'new' for newe, in the last line. Besides these, 'fieldës' should be feldes, and 'sayeth' should be seith. And it must be borne in mind that Cometh' represents Com'th, a monosyllable. One thing to which Englishmen look forward with longing hope is the advent of a time when Middle English spelling shall be understood and duly respected." WE must say that we sympathise with Mrs. Gwynn. Her Birthday-Book, which is by far the handsomest that we have seen, would not, we imagine, have been sent by any editor to Prof. Skeat for review. But because we used her Chaucerian motto to adorn a blank space, and because the text of that motto is not a good text, Mrs. Gwynn comes under the displeasure of the greatest living authority on Chaucer. The moral seems to be that compilers of Birthday Books should look to their Middle English. to It is a convenient provision of Nature that a hen, when she has laid an egg, clucks-thereby informing the world that she has laid an egg. A disposition to cluck, or, to use his own phrase, advertise a little," would,. in Mr. G. S. Street's opinion, add to the usefulness of the Historical MSS. Commission. Mr. Street has reason feel a little sore about the Commission's humility. A while ago he read with some excitement a paragraph announcing that a large number of George Selwyn's Letters to the fifth Earl of Carlisle had been discovered at Castle Howard and would shortly be published. Mr. Street, being an authority on Selwyn, wrote in haste to the publisher for an advance copy of this book. He got it, and he tells his readers in the January Blackwood: "I was congratulating myself on the business-like promptitude with which my inevitable article would appear, when lo! I heard that these new letters and many others besides had been published by the Historical MSS. Commission more than a year ago. A splendid egg had been laid by the Commission and Mr. Street had not heard of it. THE suggestion Mr. Street now makes, that the Historical MSS. Commission should issue its publications in a less official-looking form, in volumes easier to handle, and printed on better paper, that it should advertise, and send out paragraphs to "impenetrable editors," is doubtless only a part of his fun. Let the Commission do this, and we foresee a demand for illustrations and fancy bindings and gay prefaces. Moreover, the vigilant expert would then have no chance. Mr. Street overlooked a prize for a year, but, after all, he received his advance copy of Mr. Roscoe's and Miss Clergue's book, and is first in the field (the magazine field) with his criticism. THE scruples which sensitive people felt in reading the Browning love letters have not been so acute in the case of Robert Louis Stevenson's letters. Yet the two publications must finally be cited together-doubtless along with others-in determining the rights of the dead and the duties of biographers. The world was glad-more than glad to have these books. But we are not wholly out of sympathy with the writer in Macmillan who questions whether Stevenson's letters have not been too hastily and prodigally given to the world. Such misgivings are not inconsistent with a keen enjoyment of the gift, and a willingness to use it when given. As the writer points out, Stevenson has been dead only five years, and "he did not write those letters for the eye of whomsoever chooses to buy the book." At all events a new tradition has been started under which the dead are likely to be treated with as much freedom by biographers as the living already are by the gossippers of the press. The disturbing question is, Where will it end? MR. ROBERT BUCHANAN's onslaught on Mr. Kipling in the December number of the Contemporary Review has brought forth a reply, in the same quarter, from Sir Walter Besant. Mr. Buchanan, it will be remembered, suggested that Mr. Kipling was a literary hooligan, who is leading this generation away from the humanitarian teaching of forty years ago. The term hooligan was most offensive, and we are not surprised that Sir Walter Besant's knightly solicitude for the dignity of literature has been stirred to its depths. His reply to Mr. Buchanan takes the form of a confession of his own love for the writings of Mr. Kipling, in whom he sees a fine "enthusiasm for humanity." Always, in every character, he presents a man: not an actor: a man with the passions, emotions, weaknesses and instincts of humanity. It is perhaps one of the Soldiers Three or it is the Man who went into the mountains because he would be a King: or the man who sat in the lonely lighthouse till he saw streaks always the real man whom the reader sees beneath the uniform and behind the drink and the blackguardism. It is the humanity in the writer which makes his voice tremulous at times with unspoken pity and silent sympathy: it is the tremor of his voice which touches the heart of his audience. Of course neither Mr. Buchanan's attack nor Sir Walter Besant's defence belong to the domain of cool literary criticism. Indeed, it seems to us that Sir Walter misunderstands the case when he treats it as an abhorrent attack of one author on another author. At bottom the quarrel is political rather than literary. Mr. Buchanan sees in Mr. Kipling a misleader of the nation, and in that character he attacks him with the rancour and fury which are still not wholly banished from political controversy. No doubt the literary element is bound up with the social. Still, Mr. Buchanan did not storm and rage on a question of style, or a school of fiction, or a point of academics; he made it a question of social politics and of religion— subjects on which strong feeling is natural. Mr. Buchanan may be wrong, but we have no doubt that he is sincere, and we are sure that he is courageous. |