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��Literary Notes.
��LITERARY NOTES.
��Harper & Brothers have just added Mr. William Black's new novel, W kite Heather, to their library edition of that popular novel- ist's works.
Mr. Edwin Pears's book on The Fall of Constantinople will rank among the most im- portant historical works of recent years. Its theme is the fourth Crusade, which, organized by Pope Innocent III. in the beginning of the thirteenth century, and intended to pro- ceed through Egypt to drive the Moslems from the Holy Land, — "to avenge the shame of Jesus Christ, and to reconquer Jerusalem," — was diverted from its mission by the machina- tions of Venice, and turned against the East- ern metropolis. The narrative is one of absorbing interest, especially at the present time. It is, so to speak, the opening chapter of a portion of history which events appear to be rapidly hastening to a conclusion, inasmuch as the siege and sack of the Byzantine capital by the Crusaders, by crippling her resources, rendered her subsequently an easy prey to the Turks, and thus virtually led to the Moham- medan domination in south-eastern Europe. IMr. Pears's residence in Constantinople has placed at his disposal the most ample facili- ties for the study of the subject in its minutest details, and he has made full x\"e of his oppor- tunities. His style is sober and dignified. In dealing with disputed questions, he exhibits a spirit of thoroughness in examination, and of judicial fairness in decision, which cannot fail to win the admiration and confidence of the reader. The book has just been issued by Harper & Brothers.
Mr. Howard Pyle has just issued in book form, through Harper & Brothers, a col- lection of the charming old-fashioned verses and stories, with quaint illustrations, which he has been contributing for the past two years to Harper 's Young People. The volume, en- titled Pepper and Salt, a Seasoning- for Young Folk, forms a most attractive holiday book for children.
Will Carleton's new book of verse. City Ballads, will maintain his reputation as a true poet of the people. Its pages vary consider- ably in respect to merit; but he shows himself
��everywhere able alike to comprehend and ex- press the emotions of the men and women whom we all have around us, and part of whose lives we ourselves are, and the facts and scenes which afford those emotions ex- pression. In this book are set forth, with a large variety of form, the experiences and reflections of a young student and an elderly farmer, each from the country, as they wander about the city and see its sights; and some suggested themes also are treated. Fun and pathos, fact and philosophy, alike are con- tained in these poems ; and some good pictures help to render them enjoyable. They are certain to be popular. Indeed, some have been printed and established their credit already. [Harper & Brothers. $2.00.]
The Boy 's Book of Battle Lyrics, by Dr. T. D. English, contains more than a score of poems from his pen, founded upon incidents in the early history of our country, especially the Revolutionary war. The author has something of a gift in his line. One or two of his poems have much of the ring of Ma- caulay's lays, and all are spirited and effective in a high degree. There are many portraits and other illustrations; and, so far as we have examined, we have found the historical pre- liminary statements accurately and carefully prepared. The boys will welcome the vol- ume. [Harper & Brothers. $2.00.]
Hermann Grimm's recent series of re- markable articles on subjects connected with modern literature, which have attracted the attention of scholars throughout Europe, have been translated by Miss .Sarah H. Adams, and will shortly make their appear- ance from the press of Cupples, Uphani, & Co., under the general heading of "Litera- ture." The topics embrace such subjects as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Voltaire, Frederick the Great, Macaulay, Bettina von Arnim, the brothers Grimm, Albert Diirer, Dante, etc. It is seldom that an author stands so com- pletely alone in his greatness as Hermann Grimm in Germany to-day. Like Goethe in his generation, he stands forth the single, sol- itary man of genius left to modern German literature.
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