By E. L. Mason.
Symbolically Illustrated.
The publishers feel pride in announcing the appearance of what they believe to be a very remarkable production in the department of Didactic Fiction. It is entitled “Hiero-salem: the Vision of Peace,” by E. L. Mason, and is unquestionably a work of a very high, if not indeed of the first, order. Whatever may be thought of its theories,—and its theories will attract, even where they fail to convince, readers,—there can be no question of its great power. It goes to the bottom of things, and stirs its readers’ consciousness to its lowest depths, as Hugo, and Sand, and Balzac, and Heine, and Richter, and all the great masters of the human heart, do. Striking philosophical and psychological insight, marked originality, and intense vigor of attack, are among its characteristics. Those who remember George Sand’s Count Albert will find in Daniel, especially in the first half of the work, something akin to that marvellous creation of abstract wisdom and ideal beauty. The general plan, too, of the book, consisting as it does of a succession of apparently somewhat unrelated episodes, which, however, at the end are brought together, explained, and wrought into a consistent and symmetrical whole, may not impossibly recall Consuelo. Charles Auchester, doubtless, will occur to the minds of many, as, we should say, if the reference had not become hackneyed, will Robert Elsmere, with which it has much in common. Still, possessing qualities resembling those of the above-named works though it does, as a whole “Hiero-salem” is totally unlike them, and indeed distinct from every other work with which we are acquainted. It is, we think, sui generis in Fiction. Containing passages of great poetic beauty, and of the most intense and sustained passion; bristling with appropriatenesses and happy audacities of expression, that are likely to be welcomed into the common fund of speech; abounding in queer turns and startling surprises of incident and of thought,—it takes the interest captive, and hurries it, breathless, and sometimes even almost bewildered, on. The publishers feel themselves unable to hazard any conjecture with regard to the popularity of this book. To persons of cultivation, experience and thoughtfulness, whenever it reaches such, they feel sure it will speak; and their number is not inconsiderable. They await the verdict of critical and competent society with confidence, and will not be surprised if it settle down to the conviction that, on the whole, here again is nothing more or less than a great work, worthy to stand and live beside the abiding literary masterpieces.
The author, evidently an earnest believer in the immortality of the spiritual ego, treats in this work of the endeavor made by a man deeply versed in all lore that deals with the universality of the immaterial world, and the possibility in this life of the partial removal of the sensual barriers which separate us from it, to raise the standard of physical and intellectual man by the establishment of a new race founded at the outset by careful selection of two individuals. Many subjects of much interest to many thinkers now, are introduced as an integral part of the narrative,—the doctrine of reincarnation, the beliefs of Esoteric Buddhism, even the occult knowledge acquired by the Kabbalists. The idea, however, that shines through all is that behind these mere glimmerings of light there is the splendor of the truth itself, of which these are but the reflections vouchsafed to the earnest studies and strivings of man—a deeper truth which this book endeavors to express.
“Hiero-salem” will be found to be unique in manufacture as well as in contents, and is symbolically illustrated.
1 vol. Illustrated, large square 12mo. Unique cloth binding, gilt top, bevelled boards, 528 pages. Price $2.00.
⁂ Mailed postage paid to any address, by the publishers, on receipt of the price.
| J G. Cupples Co. | Publishers Booksellers, Stationers, | BOSTON. |