Literary Anecdotes of the Nineteenth Century : Contributions Towards a
Literary History of the Period. Vol. II. Edited by W. Robertson Nicoll, M.A., LL.D and Thomas J. Wise. (Hodder and Stoughton.)—This volume is more interesting than its pre- decessor. It contains much that is attractive and little that is superfluous. The book opens with a theological controversy between F. D. Maurice and Mr. Ruskin, in which, with unusual vehemence, both say a number of true things, and, in some instances, practically agree where they seem to differ. Mr. Ruskin complains that he does not always get a plain answer to a plain question ; and Maurice characteristically enough finds in what to many people is a perplexity the strongest cause for gratitude. Writing of the Book of Psalms, he says,—" I love its denunciations and cries against enemies more than any part of it." In the December number of the Leisure Hour is the facsimile of a letter from Mrs. Browning addressed to her friend, Mr. Boyd, in which, alluding to Calvinism and its opponents, she expresses her dislike to religious controversy, and her belief that in almost every such controversy "there are two wrong Bides and one bad spirit which is common to both." That letter was written in 1842, and two years later three letters,printed in this volume by Mr. Robert Brownin,v,'s permission, and addressed to Mr. Merry, express a similar fear that if knowledge is increased by such discussions, love will be diminished. A comparison between Byron and Words- worth, and other interesting comments enhance the value of these Letters. The editors say truly that Mrs. Browning is "the greatest woman poet of this or any other country or century." Writing of Horne's "New Spirit of the Age" they observe that it is almost im- possible to dissect her work from his, but they have endeavoured to do this in what is called "A Disentangled Essay" on Carlyle. A review of Mr. Meredith's "The Shaving of Shagpat," written forty years ago by George Eliot, is extracted from the Leader. Landor's famous letter to Emerson, telling him in forcible language who Southey was, and many strong and strange things in addition, is also reprinted. "I never envied any man anything but waltzing," he writes. "for which I w cut 1 bare given all the little talents I had
acquired." An elaborate contribution to the bibliography of Mr. Swinburne's works fills about eighty pages. Of Patm ore's "Angel in the House" and" The Victories of Love" the editors say, "Very few of the present generation have read these books." What do they mean ? Why, since 1887 nearly a million copies of "The Angel in the House" have been sold, and "The Victories of Love" has been and still is we believe equally popular.
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