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A “life” made authoritative and significant through M. Rodin’s personal assistance. “From first-hand sources and with infinite pains, Mr. Lawton has compiled a connected account of Rodin’s career which is vastly more valuable as a document than as an interpretation.” (Putnam’s.) “Stress, strain, and struggle have been from first to last the dominant characteristics of the life of a man who stands almost alone amongst his contemporaries as a realistic exponent of plastic art, and who in spite of the great value of everything from his hand ... is not even now in what can be called easy circumstances.” (Int. Studio.)
“Viewed in the most favourable light it is a useful compilation and gathering together of scattered fragments of criticism and biography emanating from more competent pens. It has, consequently, some value as a work of reference, more especially to the student who is conversant with Mr. Lawton’s sources of information. A more favourable opinion of the author would have been created were these sources more clearly acknowledged. As criticism, his book cannot have, even for the general reader, more than a slight, and generally borrowed value.”
“The biographer is too near his subject to see him in true relation with the rest of the world, and the book, pitched on a note of monotonous laudation, makes small attempt at a balanced judgment.”
“Mr. Lawton’s well-illustrated volume is a work of close and cogent reasoning, eminently fair and candid, and must promote a better understanding of the relative positions of representatives of the plastic art on questions which seem to involve serious but not necessarily irreconcilable antagonism.”
“His biographer ... after a sufficiently entertaining yet exhaustive description of the man and his work, leaves us in considerable doubt whether Pheidias or Praxiteles or Michael Angelo all together could bulk as large and satisfy the soul of the esthete as well as the author of ‘Le Penseur.’” Charles de Kay.
“Though possessing neither psychological penetration nor literary distinction, the book, because of its size and general sincerity of purpose, ranks as one of the most important studies yet published on the solitary plastic Titan of the day.” Christian Brinton.
*Layard, George Somes.Shirley Brooks of ‘Punch;’ his life, letters and diaries. **$3.50. Holt.
A rather voluminous biography of a London journalist written over thirty years after his death. It is written from the memorials that he left of himself in his own letters, diaries and journals.
“The biographer is unnecessarily outspoken at the expense of his subject.”
“It is so painstaking, its intentions are so honourable, and yet it is impossible conscientiously to say that more than one-tenth of its pages are necessary or, indeed, ordinarily readable. Technically the book is good, for Mr. Layard has a pleasant easy style; but a biographer’s style is nothing if his judgment is not sound, and in the disproportion of this work we find the gravest reason to doubt the soundness of Mr. Layard’s.”
“Mr. Layard’s volume was very well worth making.”
Lea, Henry Charles.History of sacerdotal celibacy in the Christian church.3d ed. 2v. *$5. Macmillan.
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Originally published in 1867 this work has come to its third edition which includes additions and changes. “The futility of a fifteen centuries’ struggle against the nature of things appears throughout the narrative, and is emphasized by the scandalous conditions reported in Italy and in Latin America during the latter part of the nineteenth century. Throughout all these centuries the church has been more tolerant of concubinage than of marriage among her clergy.... The republication of this monumental work is timely for the new crisis which the apparent irreformability of the Vatican seems to be bringing on.”
“The revision for the new edition has not been so thorough as the subject deserves. The proof-reading is not quite up to Mr. Lea’s high standard. It is a pity that references are still given to antiquated collections ... in cases where the texts cited are to be found in more correct and more accessible modern editions.”
“Scholars are already acquainted with the earlier editions, and will welcome their enlargement.”
“It is non-controversial history, content with a record of facts.”
“It is an accurate and exhaustive account of a clearly defined object, and well merits the place which is commonly assigned to it among standard authorities.”
“Dr. Lea’s reputation for impartiality and a judicial temper, needed in this as much as in any subject, stands high, and the reader will find that it is not undeserved.”
Lea, Henry Charles.History of the Inquisition of Spain.4v. ea. **$2.50. Macmillan.
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v. 3.The first two chapters of Mr. Lea’s third volume are upon “‘Torture’ and ‘The trial’ and complete his study of the practice of the Inquisition; five others, beginning with ‘The sentence’ and ending with ‘The auto de fé,’ cover what he has to tell us of its punishments; and the closing four, on ‘Jews,’ ‘Moriscos,’ ‘Protestantism,’ and ‘Censorship,’ open that survey of its spheres of action which is to fill also most of his final volume.”—Am. Hist. R.
v. 4.The author’s study of the Inquisition, brought to a close in this volume, results in the conclusion “that its work was almost wholly evil, and that, through reflex action, the persecutor suffered along with the persecuted.” The volume deals with curious phases of doctrine and superstition prevalent at that time, such as sorcery and the occult arts, witchcraft, Jansenism and the varied political and social conditions which fostered not only the Inquisition itself but the tendencies that it was intended to combat.
Reviewed by George L. Burr.
Reviewed by George L. Burr.
Reviewed by Franklin Johnson.
“The ripe work of a great scholar, acknowledged to be the greatest living authority in his field—the history of the inquisition.”
“To say that he has written the best book on the subject is scarcely to convey an adequate idea of its merit, for there is really no book that deserves to be compared with it.”
“Written in the impartial spirit characteristic of the author’s earlier publications, this is the crowning achievement in the career of the octogenarian who is generally recognized on the continent as second to no other American historian.”
“No other work of the year approaches this in significance, altho in the general field of European history there have been some notable contributions.”
“The author keeps the larger aspects of the subject well in mind, and is not afraid to generalize at the proper time, but he is in accord with the recent tendencies in institutional study in striving to be as concrete as possible.”
“In substance, as we have seen, it is almost immaculate. It is complete, accurate, impartial. But its form leaves much to be desired, Mr. Lea seems to have almost gone out of his way to avoid making his history ‘interesting’ by vivid presentation or captivating style.” Joseph Jacobs.
“There can be no doubt as to Mr. Lea’s views, but he does not write as a partisan.”
*Leach, Henry, ed. Great golfers in the making, by thirty-four famous players. **$2.50. Jacobs.
A group of autobiographical sketches. “The stories are nearly all on one plan: Where I was born; when I got my first club; how I learned the game; where I won my first championship. Almost no direct instruction is given but the theory of the book appears to be that golf fulfills the Arabian proverb that the fig-tree, looking on the fig-tree, becometh fruitful.” (Nation.)
“Well edited book.”
“The egoism is frank and ingenuous, that is what the editor no doubt wanted, but it is in almost every case quite free from any silly affectation or any outrageous claims on behalf of the game.”
“A golfer, whether good or bad, will find this volume interesting, and it is at least possible that he may learn something from it”
Leage, Richard W.Roman private law, founded on the “Institutes” of Gaius and Justinian. *$3.25. Macmillan.
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The book aims “to give as simply as possible the subject matter of the Institutes of Gaius and Justinian.” This the author does “not by translating or commenting on the original texts, but by describing clearly and concisely the substance of the law revealed to us by those texts. The historical point of view is omitted, except so far as it is necessarily involved in recording the fact (e. g.) that the forms of execution under the Antonines were different from those employed under Justinian.” (Nation.)
“The book falls between two stools. It is not a simple digest of the Institutes, nor is it a proper critical treatment of the subject. Many of the sections show considerable power of lucid exposition, notably that on servitudes, and again that on legacies and that on dos. There is a good summary of the slave’s position in the matter of contract. But it is a pity that an elementary work should contain so many mistakes, and it is not altogether desirable that a work, professedly of that particular character, should now and again, on no apparent principle, give a cursory account of what requires deeper treatment.”
“The chief objection which can be taken to the author’s treatment of the subject is that it is not sufficiently Roman. The author has, we think, followed Maine a little too blindly in several instances. Despite these blemishes however, the book is, in our view, a great advance on any previous work of the same character written for the student, and should prove of considerable utility to him.”
“Mr. Leage’s attempt may be said to be a thoroughly successful one. He has stated clearly and simply the law of the Institutes, avoiding controversy and showing good judgment where the evidence is conflicting. A few passages will need revision in a second edition, which will no doubt soon be called for.” H. Bd.
“The work is admirably done, and should prove useful, not only to elementary students, but to anyone who wishes to be saved the trouble of referring to the original Institutes.”
“It will serve admirably for reading with the various titles of the Institutes either as introduction or review; and we do not suppose that without such aid even Roman law students found themselves equal to the bare texts, much less English students.”
“A non-legal reader, if he is interested in historical and social questions, will find it full of noteworthy matter.”
Leblanc, Maurice.Exploits of Arsène Lupin; tr. by A. Teixeira De Mattos. †$1.28. Harper.
7–31976.
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Arsène Lupin is a gentleman burglar whose mind, cunning, gracious manners and clever histrionic powers are all employed in paving an artistic way for the trickery of his profession. Followed out into mid-ocean by a wireless message, his disguise wards off suspicion, and even while crossing he steals money and jewels and tucks them away in the very kodak that aids him in his love making with the girl whose aunt he robs; Lupin is his own narrator, and occasionally in whisking about to an objective point of view he tracks himself to cover with the reader eager in pursuit.
“The stories, aside from the unaccountable manner of their unfolding, are of uneven merit, but some are capital.”
“His adventures are thrillingly and gracefully told.”
“The book is lively and witty in the French manner, and the courteous trial of wits between Arsène and Sherlock Holmes at the end is most impressive.”
Le Bon, Gustave.Evolution of matter; tr. from the 3d French ed. with introd. and notes by F. Legge. *$1.50. Scribner.
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A translation of the third French edition by Mr. Legge who stands “as sponsor for the recognition by scientific experts in Europe, England and America of the value of Dr. Le Bon’s experiments and their reception in various degrees of the soundness of his theories.” (Sat. R.)
“We may say, then, that readers who, without being scientific experts, wish to inform themselves of the latest developments of physical science may safely trust themselves to the guidance of this book. It has the prestige on which the general reader must rely; and it is as fascinating for its literary qualities as for its combination of marvellous facts and bold speculation and suggestion.”
“In spite of the faults upon which we have commented, the present book is one of widespread interest. The translation here given is adequate, inasmuch as it renders, for the most part into readable English, the meaning, and—in some cases only too faithfully—the style of the author. But it has been very badly prepared for the press, and the misprints are a great deal more frequent in it than they should be.”
“A translation of this work ... was very much to be desired, for it would be hard to conceive any reading more fascinating.”
Le Braz, Anatole.Land of pardons; tr. by Francis M. Gostling. *$2. Macmillan.
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Descriptive note in Annual, 1906.
Le Dantec, Felix Alexandre.Nature and origin of life, in the light of new knowledge. *$2. Barnes.
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W 7–76.
W 7–76.
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“The plan of Professor Le Dantec’s book is admirably adapted for the amateur student of science, all technical terms being explained in simple language. The subjects are divided as follows: The objective study of natural bodies; analysis of natural and vital phenomena; decomposition into functions; agreement of Darwin’s and Lamarck’s systems; phenomena, evolution, and bipolarity of living and not living matter; formation of species and appearance of life. Illustrations in diagram accompany the volume.”—Lit. D.
“M. Le Dantec’s book is for the most part a superficial survey of the present situation as he himself appears to see it.”
Reviewed by Raymond Pearl.
“Life is chemism, says he. And he says it in the book before us lucidly, sparklingly, positively—but not convincingly.”
“Written in a clear simple style, it makes plain to the understanding of the general reader one of the most fascinating theories of recent science.”
“The volume is worthy of philosophical consideration as advocating an unproved possibility, but the ‘light of new knowledge’ will have to become much brighter than at present before one can pencil q. e. d. on the margins of many of the pages.”
“With a humour which we appreciate he has entirely shirked the question oforigin, only referring to it in a casual, half-hearted sort of way on the last page.” J. A. T.
“The mechanical processes that build up and sustain living bodies are exhibited in the present volume with remarkable clearness and completeness. On this side of the subject given in its title it is all that could be desired.”
Ledoux, Louis Vernon.Soul’s progress, and other poems. **$1.25. Lane.
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“The titular piece in his volume is a lyric sequence of some forty pages—the old poetic wayfaring of the ‘soul’ through the dubious experiences of life to the ‘higher optimism.’” (Dial.) The remaining poems reflect equally plainly “the elevated spirit in which he accepts the call to poetry.”
“Technically there is little fault to find except in the case of the blank verse, which is not successful.”
Reviewed by Wm. M. Payne.
“There is an engaging fervor in the spirit of his work. Embodied as it is in clear and fluent verse, with an unusual melody of vowelsound, it makes a gently insistent appeal, not unlike that to be felt in certain pieces of Longfellow’s.”
“Singularly engaging.... ‘The soul’s progress,’ with its fine, high seriousness of tone and intention, its evidences of an ardent enthusiasm for the traditional ideals of English verse, and its frank, youthful assumption of an interest on the part of the world in the motions of a soul newly awakened to the universality of its own individual life.” William Aspenwall Bradley.
“In a pleasing variety of metrical forms, and with sincere poetical feeling, this vision of advancing spiritual growth through beauty and truth is presented simply and clearly.”
Lee, Gerald Stanley.Voice of the machines; an introduction to the twentieth century.$1.25. Mount Tom press, Northampton, Mass.
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Since this is an age of machines, the author feels that we must learn to see in this machinery, poetry, religion, love, liberty and immortality. He puts forth this necessity in chapters entitled The men behind the machines, The language of machines, The machines as poets, The ideas behind the machines.
“Some passages go a step beyond the sublime and some of the epigrams miss fire, but it is so encouraging to find a man who can recognize contemporaneous poetry that we are not inclined to be critical.”
“At least he is as eloquent about machinery as the author of Job about Leviathan, and it is impossible not to approve his eloquence, whatever reservations one may have about his philosophy.”
*Lee, Jennette Barbour.Ibsen secret: a key to the prose dramas of Henrik Ibsen. **$1.25. Putnam.
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A reprint in book form of a series of papers on Ibsen published a year ago in Putnam’s monthly. Her discussion is devoted principally to the symbolism in the Ibsen drama. “Many essayists before her have probed, to their own satisfaction, and proclaimed the meaning of many of his alleged mysteries, and her contention is that each of the social plays is constructed around one central symbol, a knowledge of which is essential to a proper understanding of the work. Thus the Tarantelle is the key to ‘A doll’s house,’ the pistol to ‘Hedda Gabler,’ and Eyolf and his crutch to ‘Little Eyolf.’” (Nation.)
“It might be dismissed with brief mention—for it has nothing new or significant to say in the way of either criticism or interpretation—if it were not so entirely representative of the attitude of a large class of professed Ibsen worshippers, who have more enthusiasm than discrimination.”
Lee, John.Religious liberty in South America, with special reference to recent legislation in Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia; with an introd. by Bishop John H. Vincent. *$1.25. West. Meth. bk.
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In the spirit of broad religious tolerance, the author traces the movement for religious liberty in the South American republics of Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia.
“The volume points out flagrant conditions and aims to create a sentiment against existing religious intolerance. It is of special interest to students of religious social and political conditions, and from either of these standpoints is scientific.”
“Dr. Lee, we repeat, has done a good service in publishing this book; and if it were read by American Catholics as well as by Protestants, the world would be the better for it. It is to be regretted that the author has once or twice slipped into an expression which is unnecessarily bitter, and, perhaps, even unjust. Neither would the volume have suffered, if an occasional bit of padding had been left out.”
Lee, Marian, pseud.SeeComstock, Anna Botsford.
Lee, Sidney.Shakespeare and the modern stage, with other essays. **$2. Scribner.
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“Although it is composed of papers written at different times and for various occasions, and although it breaks into three divisions, the group already cited, contributions to historical and biographical Shakespeareana, and Shakespearean essays properly so called, the volume possesses more unity than such collections of occasional addresses and articles are wont to have.”—Forum.
“Mr. Lee writes here rather as a ‘popularizer’ than an expert, but his work has none of the slipshod rhetoric of the increasing crowd who demand the public favour.”
“It was a happy thought of Mr. Lee’s to write a paper on ‘Pepys and Shakespeare,’ and this, no doubt, many readers will find the most amusing thing in the volume.” Charles H. A. Wager.
“Mr. Lee’s latest contribution to Shakespearean literature is based, as all his other books are, upon a scholarship that is remarkably solid and sane. Hence it is sure to appeal to the limited audience interested in English and, particularly, in Shakespearean studies.” W. P. Trent.
“These are good, sound papers, worth preserving; and if we sometimes wish that the ‘intention’ were kept a little more ‘private’ ... it is an intention in which all may join.”
“Among the most interesting papers in Mr. Lee’s volumes are those on Shakespere’s philosophy, oral traditions, and the perils of unscientific research. There is not a dull page in the book.”
“Though another student of the stage may be moved to dispute an occasional opinion of Mr. Lee’s, no student of the stage can fail to feel respect for the solid scholarship which sustains these collected essays and for the sobriety and sanity which is visible in whatever Mr. Lee writes.” Brander Matthews.
“One of his strongest claims to attention is the fact that he has rigorously held the speculative impulse in check, and has brought to the study of the dramatist, not only as much knowledge as any man of his time, but robust common sense.”
“In his new volume of essays on Shakespearean subjects he is always interesting, and instructive, but he is very rarely sympathetic. Mr. Lee’s essays, however, have a great deal more in them than an occasional unpleasant hardness of tone. They are full of matter, lucidly arranged and carefully substantiated. They are serious and scholarly contributions to the literature of Shakespearean criticism.”
Lee, Sidney.Stratford-on-Avon: from the earliest times to the death of Shakespeare; il. by Herbert Railton. *$1.50. Lippincott.
“Among the mass of modern Shakespeariana which grows vaster with every publishing season, it is a relief to find one book on Stratford that deals with the town for its own rather than for the great poet’s sake. This picturesque account of Stratford’s early history,—its old markets and fairs, its nobility, its guild, its village sports and industries,—serves not only to make a setting for the life of Shakespeare, but also to bring out much that, having nothing to do with him, is nevertheless quaint and characteristic.”—Dial.
“Mr. Lee has revised his text to bring it strictly up to date, and has added considerable information which historical researches since 1890 have brought to light.”
“The book deserves to be read not only as being supplementary of Mr. Lee’s biography of the poet, but also in connection with George Brandes’s ‘Life of Shakespeare,’ whose bold theories become more interesting in the comparison.”
“The book is written with the seriousness and caution that are characteristic of all Mr. Lee’s work, and is in all cases based on documents.”
“It is accurate, entertaining and handsomely illustrated.”
Lees, Dorothy Neville.Scenes and shrines in Tuscany. *$1.25. Dutton.
Twenty-three sketches of Tuscan scenes and customs, written while the author was connected with an Italian family of the upper class. “To this family belongs her little six-year-old friend, Mafalda, who, with her big sister, Francesca, and the contadini on the villa estate, form a group as interesting as if they were characters in a story.” (Nation.)
“We advise every lover of Italy to read ‘Scenes and shrines in Tuscany.’ It is a careful and delightful piece of work, marred by few errors of taste or fact.”
“Episodes in the daily life of the people, like the Harvest, the Vintage, and All Souls’ day in Florence, are described with knowledge and insight. We advise even those to whom a sojourn in Tuscany is a future experience to read this book.”
Lefevre, Edwin.Sampson Rock of Wall street. †$1.50. Harper.