Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Critical Notices Of The Literature Of The Last Three Months,
is laid in Spain , and the period is that which witnessed the downfall of Cardinal Albcroni . Notwithstanding some deficiencies of style , there is much native power and command of language . Tho scones are well contrived , and in a great measure true to history ; aud the long lists of intrigue , political and amatory , are peculiarly Spanish . " Dona Blanca of Navarre , " * is another work of a similar character . It is the history of a long-continued family quarrelin which tho revolutions of the country
, have had some share . Like all tales of Spanish origin , there is no inconsiderable amount of love , and little of it sincere ; but b y far the greater portion assumed for tho purpose of excusing a long career of intrigue and guilt . The most amusing part of the work , however , although somewhat tedious , consists in the intense grandiloquence in which the commonest incidents is related . Every occurrence is inflated to a degree which borders on the ridiculous , and although in English , it is impossible
to help feeling that we are reading a chronicle of the olden time , stripped of all its eccentric mannerism of style and language , and clothed for . the occasion in a remarkably modern dress . Erom these ultra-romances of the old historic school , it is refreshing , although not very instructive , to turn to talcs of humbler origin . We have no very great affection , it is true , for imitations , yet now that Cooper is dead , and Washington Irving silent , the title of " Leather Stocking and Silk , "t coupled with the fact of the former being a back-woods
hunter and the Avhole tale American , a diversion produced by a peep into forest life in what was once the far West has its advantages . The love part of this tale is the least effective portion of it , as it hangs upon the somewhat worn out story of two young gentlemen thinking they are in love with the same lady , hating each other cordially therefore , and finding out that they are after all mistaken , and that there are two fair ones in the ease , ready and anxious enough to put an end to so unaccountable a blunder . The picturehoweverof the old hunter , and his gradual cleaA'ing
, , to the society Avhich has sprung up around him , and weakened in his old age his love for the forest and the chase , is well drawn , and there is a genuine sympathy with everything American in the work , which speaks much for the patriotism and sincerity of the writer . " Margaret Hepburn , " J by the author of " Passages in the Life of Margaret Maitland , " belongs to a class of novels , of which we candidly confess to have read more than we care to recollect . It has , however , its
points of interest ; and to those who like carefully drawn delineations of the old Scotch character , and ai-e never tired of reading about John Knox , the troubles of the Regency and the Reformation , as well as the mischances of Queen Mary and her relations , there is quite a sufficiency of literary merit in the work to repay the time bestowed upon its perusal . Mr . Harrison Ainsworth ' s " Star-Chamber , " § is as full of "thrilling interest" and " startling events " as any other of his works . The only matter of surprise to us is , the marvellous power of reproduction with
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Critical Notices Of The Literature Of The Last Three Months,
is laid in Spain , and the period is that which witnessed the downfall of Cardinal Albcroni . Notwithstanding some deficiencies of style , there is much native power and command of language . Tho scones are well contrived , and in a great measure true to history ; aud the long lists of intrigue , political and amatory , are peculiarly Spanish . " Dona Blanca of Navarre , " * is another work of a similar character . It is the history of a long-continued family quarrelin which tho revolutions of the country
, have had some share . Like all tales of Spanish origin , there is no inconsiderable amount of love , and little of it sincere ; but b y far the greater portion assumed for tho purpose of excusing a long career of intrigue and guilt . The most amusing part of the work , however , although somewhat tedious , consists in the intense grandiloquence in which the commonest incidents is related . Every occurrence is inflated to a degree which borders on the ridiculous , and although in English , it is impossible
to help feeling that we are reading a chronicle of the olden time , stripped of all its eccentric mannerism of style and language , and clothed for . the occasion in a remarkably modern dress . Erom these ultra-romances of the old historic school , it is refreshing , although not very instructive , to turn to talcs of humbler origin . We have no very great affection , it is true , for imitations , yet now that Cooper is dead , and Washington Irving silent , the title of " Leather Stocking and Silk , "t coupled with the fact of the former being a back-woods
hunter and the Avhole tale American , a diversion produced by a peep into forest life in what was once the far West has its advantages . The love part of this tale is the least effective portion of it , as it hangs upon the somewhat worn out story of two young gentlemen thinking they are in love with the same lady , hating each other cordially therefore , and finding out that they are after all mistaken , and that there are two fair ones in the ease , ready and anxious enough to put an end to so unaccountable a blunder . The picturehoweverof the old hunter , and his gradual cleaA'ing
, , to the society Avhich has sprung up around him , and weakened in his old age his love for the forest and the chase , is well drawn , and there is a genuine sympathy with everything American in the work , which speaks much for the patriotism and sincerity of the writer . " Margaret Hepburn , " J by the author of " Passages in the Life of Margaret Maitland , " belongs to a class of novels , of which we candidly confess to have read more than we care to recollect . It has , however , its
points of interest ; and to those who like carefully drawn delineations of the old Scotch character , and ai-e never tired of reading about John Knox , the troubles of the Regency and the Reformation , as well as the mischances of Queen Mary and her relations , there is quite a sufficiency of literary merit in the work to repay the time bestowed upon its perusal . Mr . Harrison Ainsworth ' s " Star-Chamber , " § is as full of "thrilling interest" and " startling events " as any other of his works . The only matter of surprise to us is , the marvellous power of reproduction with