CORRESPONDENCE.
SOME MODERN FRENCH BOOKS.
[TO THZ EDITOZ OF THE "SPICTAT011.1
SIB,—In suggesting the names of a few readable books among those recently published in France, it seems natural to begin with memoirs, a branch of literature in which the French have so often cultivated the fine flower of a peculiar art. The third volume of the Duchesse de Dino's admirable Chronigue (Plon-Nourrit, 3 fr. 50 c.) continues the book down to 1850. It covers the tragic death of the Doc d'Orleans in 1842, as well as the Revolution of 1848, when alarms and disturbances pursued the Duchesse as far as the remote German princi- pality where she reigned, spending more time there than on her estates in Touraine. This volume is even fuller of per- sonal interest than its forerunners, though it gives an equally vivid picture of contemporary politics and society. The most lively and detailed accounts of her journeys, her friendships, her opinions, while making us realise the social gulf between ourselves and the middle of the last century, considerably improve our acquaintance with the distinguished woman whom her grandson, the Marquis de Castellane, in his new book calls " cette surprenante Duchesse de Dino." His title, Hommes et Choses de men Temps (Plon-Nourrit, 3 fr. 50 c.), does not precisely suggest that his mother, Madame de Castellane, is his central character ; yet this is the case. Decidedly the most attractive pages in an interesting book are those which, under the heading of "Lie Salon de ma Mere," describe the political and religious influence exercised by that great-niece of Talleyrand, Madame de Dino's daughter Pauline, whose honour it is to have brought back the old statesman to Christianity. For more than a dozen years before and after 1870 Madame de Castellane's salon in Paris was the meeting-place of a distinguished Opposition. advocates of Liberalism combined with Monarchy and religion. One need only mention the name of M. Thiers —in his Royalist days—of M. de Falloux, M. de Montalem- bert, M. Augustin Cochin, Pere Gratry, Bishop Dupanloup, to show the kind of stuff of which Madame de Castellane's friends were made. Her son writes from personal recollec- tions, giving also his own experiences as a moblot in 1870 and in the National Assembly later. This lightly written book bears a stamp of truth and clever observation worthy of Madame de Dino's grandson.
Another book which throws light on French social history in the eventful nineteenth century is M. Clement-Simon's La Comtesse de Valon (Plon-Nourrit, 7 fr. 50 c.) The name of Apollonie de la Rochelambert is not familiar to English people, but until her death a few years ago Madame de Valon was a. notable figure in French society. Unlike her sisters and brother, who were devoted friends of the Emperor and Empress, she was strongly Legitimist in opinion; but before all she was patriotic; and this was proved in the terrible year, when she and her husband turned their chateau of Rosay, in Normandy, into a military hospital. Their generous kindness
to the wounded of both armies, combined with the fact that there was a friendship of long standing between her mother's family and the Prussian Royalties, caused absurd suspicions which hurt Madame de Valon deeply. Through M. Pouyer- Quertier, whose daughter became her sister-in-law, Madame de VaIon was a good deal mixed up in the peace negotiations, and unpublished letters and documents add political interest to a book already full of charm. While we are talking of the war, the Marquis Costa de Beauregard's posthumous volume, Pages d'Histoire et de Guerra (Plon-Nourrit, 3 fr. 50 0.), with its sympathetic preface by IL Henry Bordeaux, must not be neglected. Among its 'varied contents, nothing is more attractive than "Pendant et Apres lee Coups de Fen," a thinly veiled account of the author's personal experiences as a soldier. The book is worth having, as a memorial of one of the best men and most trustworthy writers of our time.
Coming to more literary memoirs, every admirer of Alphonse Daudet must welcome Madame Daudet's Souvenirs autour d'un Groupe Litteraire (Fasquelle, 3 fr. 50 c.) Her own graceful talent is shown to perfection in this small, delightful volume of recollections, consecrated to the memory of her husband and his friends,—Flaubert, the Goncourts, and others. No one can appreciate these men more kindly than Madame Alphonse Daudet has done; no one is capable of keener, juster, more delicate criticism of some of their work and its effect on the mind of France. Another book that appeals to lovers of literature, as such, is La Dileeta de Balzae (Plon-Nourrit, 3 fr. 50 c.), a sketch by Mrs. Ruxton of the novelist's early life and his curious relation—half lover, half 11011-40 Madame de Berny, the touching original of Madame de Mortsauf in Le Lys d,ans la Vallee.
French literary history, from the seventeenth century to the Revolution, is excellently illustrated by two very different books,—L'Academie Francaise sous l'Ancien Regime, by its late secretary, M. Gaston Boissier (Hachette, 3 fr. 50 c.), and Le Plaisant Abbe de Boisrobert, by M. Emile Magna (Mercure de France, 3 fr. 50 c.) The latter is one of those lively social studies of which the French have the secret. Its hero was a clever, frivolous creature, something of a poet, who crept into Richelien's favour by wit and flattery, out a fairly conspicuous figure at Louis XILI.'s Court, and was one of the early members of the Academy. M. Magne retails the gossip of the time, and his book is more amusing than edifying,—a lifelike and truly French picture. In M. Boissier's pages the Academy moves with a much more dignified air. M. Courbaud, who writes the preface, warns us that the latter part of the book was only sketched out by the learned and charming writer whom all literary France laments ; but his friends have suc- cessfully edited the notes he left behind, and we have here an excellent amount of the Academy during its first period, which ended with Marmontel.
Another book left unfinished by its author was Madame, Mere du Rigent (Hachette, 3 fr. 50 0.) Madame Arvede Barine's historical portraits are well known; she was one of the first, and certainly the most distinguished, in her chosen style. This picture of " Liselotte " gives a much clearer and pleasanter idea of the very human Duchess in her most un- congenial surroundings than anything that has yet been written about her. Clever and entertaining to the last degree, the book only deepens one's regret for the loss of its gifted author. She bad already prepared her last chapter ; only the task of actual completion was left for another hand. Madame Arvede Barine's favourite period in history was the seventeenth century, with all its varied fascination. But there are many writers who find the eighteenth still more engrossing, and among these, difficult as the choice may be, one is bound to mention M. Jean Loredan. La Grande Misre et lea Voleurs an %MP. sad. (Perrin, 5 fr.) throws light on the dark background of French life in that century, the life which in a very few years was to make history in the Revolution. In some ways the book is a match for M. Funck-Brentano's famous .Mandrin. It is the true history, from unpublished documents, of a woman-thief, Marion of Le Faouet, who with her gang terrorised Brittany for thirty years,—not a pleasant story in any way; full of sordid horror, but also of the most curious details of the time. This singular talent for making details live is possessed to a remarkable degree by a writer who has wisely chosen the inexhaustible world of Paris as his hunting-ground. I refer to M. Robert Renard. La Rue Saint-IIcmore, de is Revolution a nos ,Tours (Emile-Paul, 5 fr.1
Is the second volume of a book which was reviewed in the Spectator some time ago. One cannot turn its pages, full of romance and revolution, without confessing that the street of St. Honore, home of the Jacobins, the Capucins, the Feuillants, comes near to being the most interesting in the world.
M. Robert de la Siseranne needs no fresh introduction to English readers. The new series of his collected essays on art, Le Miroir de la Vie: Essais cur l'Evoltdion Esthetigue (Rachette, 3 fr. 50 c.), shows, I venture to think, an advance in his chosen way of study. Specially attractive and original are "Lea Dienx de l'Heure," the story of clock-making through the ages, and a delightful essay on the master and pupil, Chardin and Fragonard. In " Tumulo Solemnia" he traces with learning and charm the evolution of monumental art through many centuries. Art as illustrated by travel is always popular. It would be difficult to find a. better example of this kind of book than M. Andre Godard's Les Madones Comtadines (Perrin, $ fr. 50 c.), in which the history, the character, and the religions art of Provence are delightfully treated. Going farther South, M. Gabriel Faure's Heures (Fasquelle, 3 fr. 50 c.), a. reprint of articles which appeared in the Revue des Dens Mondes, is a book to be thoroughly enjoyed by all lovers of Italy. It might be rash to say quite as much of Dana is Lumiere de Rome, by M. Edmond Renard (Perrin, 5 fr.) The way things strike him in his " pMerina.ges et flfineries " may even repel some Northern minds ; but the book is poetically written, and full of vivid touches which transport a reader to the heart of Rome.
A book of more general social interest and practical philosophy is Le Mirage Oriental (Perrin, 3 fr. BO c.) M. Bertrand has made it his object to help the West to understand the East, and the result is a singularly curious and interesting study. The world of Islam, especially in Egypt and Turkey, is M. Bertrand's subject. He knows it well : for him all glamour has disappeared, all rothance, even the local colour beloved of tourists and now chiefly manu- factured for their use. The spirit of the East, its morals —or their absence—its manners, customs, political ambitions, religious solidarity—the dangers and the hopes of the future— on all this M. Bertrand's book is valuable and enlightening.
Among recent novels which may be recommended, La Croisie des Chemins (Plon-Nourrit, 3 fr. 50c.) takes easily a first place. M. Henry Bordeaux is one of the strongest writers of the day. The book is a clever picture of one side —the higher professional side—of Parisian life, and the characters are convincing, especially that of Pascal Rouvray, the young man, distinguished in science, whose life is torn between the claims of passion and of duty. Another curious and clever novel, Les Dens Routes, by Paul Tany (Perrin, 3 ft. 50c.), deals with the artist life of Paris, and describes a man who has the strange faculty of posing as an infallible art critic without any real knowledge, and for some time deceives society. Mallard's career of falsehood and artificiality is contrasted in a telling story with that of an honest worker whom he does his best to ruin. .Le Miroir aux Alouetles, by F. de Mestral-Combremont (Plon-Nourrit, 3 fr. 50 a.), is also Parisian in atmosphere. The subject is the disillusioning of a literary man who marries to please his father, and afterwards meets his affinity in a young woman of advanced views. In spite of the author, one's sympathy cannot be quite withheld from Dan'el Delombre's frivolous little wife. A very amusing chapter gives details of a meeting of advanced women who talk the most amazing, though not impossible, nonsense. A much pleasanter picture of middle- class life in Paris is Par /a Volontd et par la Grdee, by Pierre Valdagne (Douville, 3 fr. 50 c.) A prettier character than Claire Saintras it would be difficult to find, or a happier menage than hers with her excellent husband, whom by her own spirited efforts she lifts from his solid industrial position to be a Deputy and a Minister. Another good Parisian story is Aimer guand tame (Plon-Nourrit, 3 fr. 50 e.), by the well- known writer Jean de la Brete, in which a great doctor falls in love with a penniless girl of good birth, and stands by her through terrible suspicions and trials which threaten to wreck her life and his own.
There is plenty of romance to be lived and written outside Paris. Les Arrivants, by Jean Yoh) (Grasset, 3 fr. 50 ), is a pathetic story of the struggle between old traditions and new forces which now shakes the heart of France: The
scene is La Vendee. Among several episodes more or less painful, that of the imaginary wild boar may seem incredible to readers unacquainted with village life under the Republic. A more agreeable modern picture is drawn by Madame de Puliga (" Brada ") in her novel, L'Ame Libre (Plon-Nourrit, 3 fr. 50 c.) Her touch is light, her style easy and lively, her characters, mostly charming people, move in spite of troubles in the brightest atmosphere, and all ends delightfully. Another most taking story is tin Conte Bleu, by Pierre Grasset (Grasset, 3 fr. 50 e.), the tale of a honeymoon and its tragic end; true in every touch of description and feeling, even in the gradual return of the light of life that had seemed to be extinguished. Longer, heavier, more thoughtful and mystical, full too of insight into human dreams and motives, is Madame Waltz's new novel, La Vie Intdrieure (Perrin, 3 fr. 50 c.), in the less familiar setting of a Protestant household in the Ardennes. Still more variety of scene and subject may be found in La Mesangere, by Myriam Thelen (Plon-Nonrrit, 8 fr. 50 c.), the touching diary of a girl • who makes a home in her native village for suffering and neglected children. It may sound cynical to say so, but her reward is what might have been expected. The account of modern France is as true as it is sad, but the spirit of the book is charming.—I am, Sir, &c., E.
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