Brunetiere, Ferdinand. Honore de Balzac. **$1.50. Lippincott.
6–43793.
The second volume of a series which aims to do for French literature what has been achieved for the English and American men of letters. The sketch deals not so much with the biographical facts of Balzac’s life, as with the elemental points that define, explain and characterize his work. The life is subordinated to the creative energy that appeals to the critic and historian of literature.
“In this volume we have an excellent example of M. Brunetière’s work.”
| + + | Acad. 72: 30. Ja. 12, ’07. 1240w. |
“Scholarly, of course, in treatment, compact, finished, and readable. Not equally well translated throughout.”
| + + − | A. L. A. Bkl. 3: 6. Ja. ’07. |
“He has gone over fields trodden by many predecessors, without discovering either new flowers or new weeds. When we come to specific judgment on particular novels, M. Brunetière is inclined to be too arbitrary. It is surprising to find such a critic as M. Brunetière confusing real persons with the creatures of fiction.”
| − + | Ath. 1907, 1: 95. Ja. 26. 1390w. |