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Article REVIEW OF LITERATURE, DRAMA, &c. ← Page 4 of 4
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Review Of Literature, Drama, &C.
has been in their themes ; the language in whicli the one described the revolution of tlie heavenly bodies , ancl in which the other spirited a shilling under the garter of an astounded gentlewoman , has to the crowd of listeners been equally unintelligible . The author of the book before us , in his preface , displays a keen sense of this mischievous absurdity , and the body of this volume proves how far , how very far he has
avoided it . Nothing can be more plain than the words used by Mr . Mudie—nothing more simple and pleasingly familiar than his illustration of the vast mechanism of The Heavens . The book may be read and understood as easily as one of the easiest tales of Miss Edgeworth . The child , with a mind sufficiently awakened to enjoy Robinson Crusoe , may be interested and unconsciousl y elevated by a perusal of Mr . Mudie ' s work , whicli—though it is its least merit—is produced with every attention to the present demand for beautiful printing and illustration . The work contains specimens—the first we have seen—of Baxter ' s oil-colour painting ; it is very beautiful .
The Empress , by Geo . Bennett . Smith , Elder , and Co . —These elelightful volumes were not placed on our table until all our Review was at press ; a circumstance we regret , as it prevents our transferring to our pages any of the beautiful scenes and passages with whicli they abound . But we cannot resist availing ourselves of the earliest opportunity to recommend the perusal of the Empress to our reading friends . It is really a very excellent novel . The period of history to
which it refers is one of varied ancl striking interest , whether we regard the public characters or the private pursuits and manners of the Romans during the decline of their empire ; ancl Mr . Bennett is equally successful in depicting both . His delineation of the sensual ancl heartless Claudius , of his intriguing consort , of Lollia the coquette , of the youths Nero and Germanicus , are all masterly . His characters possess indeed the distinctness and individuality which so remarkabldistinguished
y Scott , ancl the absence of which is the great failure of most of our latest romance writers . We observe Mr . Bennett thinks proper , in his preface , to show that it is impossible he could have copied from " Pompeii . " The Empress has more character , more story , is less strained in its effects , and , above all , is quite free from that affectation of a critical acquaintance with the habits and manners of the Romans , which is constantly obtruded upon us in tlie former novel .
The Road to the Stage , by the late Thomas Leman Rede . Onwhyn . —As rail-roads have tended to bring distant friends together by shortening time and distance , so we hoped , on opening this unpretending little book , to find a short vade mecum to the mysteries of Thespis , nor have we been disappointed . The theatrical tyro may find many valuable hints to fix his attention before he finall y determines . to ramble amid- " scenes" of which he has little dreamed—and will be thankful
to our late brother of the art for leaving so careful a text-book . AVe shall probabl y refer to this manual upon a future occasion , having an eye to the drama , ancl a heart warm enough to aid in preventing , if possible , its further decadence—and in such case we must again inquire for " the Road to thc Stage . "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Review Of Literature, Drama, &C.
has been in their themes ; the language in whicli the one described the revolution of tlie heavenly bodies , ancl in which the other spirited a shilling under the garter of an astounded gentlewoman , has to the crowd of listeners been equally unintelligible . The author of the book before us , in his preface , displays a keen sense of this mischievous absurdity , and the body of this volume proves how far , how very far he has
avoided it . Nothing can be more plain than the words used by Mr . Mudie—nothing more simple and pleasingly familiar than his illustration of the vast mechanism of The Heavens . The book may be read and understood as easily as one of the easiest tales of Miss Edgeworth . The child , with a mind sufficiently awakened to enjoy Robinson Crusoe , may be interested and unconsciousl y elevated by a perusal of Mr . Mudie ' s work , whicli—though it is its least merit—is produced with every attention to the present demand for beautiful printing and illustration . The work contains specimens—the first we have seen—of Baxter ' s oil-colour painting ; it is very beautiful .
The Empress , by Geo . Bennett . Smith , Elder , and Co . —These elelightful volumes were not placed on our table until all our Review was at press ; a circumstance we regret , as it prevents our transferring to our pages any of the beautiful scenes and passages with whicli they abound . But we cannot resist availing ourselves of the earliest opportunity to recommend the perusal of the Empress to our reading friends . It is really a very excellent novel . The period of history to
which it refers is one of varied ancl striking interest , whether we regard the public characters or the private pursuits and manners of the Romans during the decline of their empire ; ancl Mr . Bennett is equally successful in depicting both . His delineation of the sensual ancl heartless Claudius , of his intriguing consort , of Lollia the coquette , of the youths Nero and Germanicus , are all masterly . His characters possess indeed the distinctness and individuality which so remarkabldistinguished
y Scott , ancl the absence of which is the great failure of most of our latest romance writers . We observe Mr . Bennett thinks proper , in his preface , to show that it is impossible he could have copied from " Pompeii . " The Empress has more character , more story , is less strained in its effects , and , above all , is quite free from that affectation of a critical acquaintance with the habits and manners of the Romans , which is constantly obtruded upon us in tlie former novel .
The Road to the Stage , by the late Thomas Leman Rede . Onwhyn . —As rail-roads have tended to bring distant friends together by shortening time and distance , so we hoped , on opening this unpretending little book , to find a short vade mecum to the mysteries of Thespis , nor have we been disappointed . The theatrical tyro may find many valuable hints to fix his attention before he finall y determines . to ramble amid- " scenes" of which he has little dreamed—and will be thankful
to our late brother of the art for leaving so careful a text-book . AVe shall probabl y refer to this manual upon a future occasion , having an eye to the drama , ancl a heart warm enough to aid in preventing , if possible , its further decadence—and in such case we must again inquire for " the Road to thc Stage . "