“An exciting story from start to finish.”
| + | Outlook. 81: 380. O. 14, ‘05. 50w. |
Wampum library of American literature; ed. by Brander Matthews. [**]$1.40. Longmans.
These three volumes form the beginning of a series which when completed will illustrate the development of the various forms of American literature. Each volume treats of a single species, tracing the evolution of this definite form and presenting in chronological sequence typical examples chosen from the writings of American authors born prior to 1850. Volume I, “American short stories,” edited by Charles Sears Baldwin, contains a comprehensive introduction, and selected stories which he divides into two periods, the “tentative” and the “new form.” Under the former are selections from Irving, Austin, Hall, and Pike; under the latter, Hawthorne, Longfellow, Poe, Willis, Kirkland, O’Brien, Hart, Webster, Taylor, Bunner, and Frederic. Volume II, “American literary criticism,” edited by William Morton Payne, deals with the development of the critical spirit in American literature. The introduction shows literary insight and critical ability and ranks with the essays which follow. The essays selected are entirely upon literary themes, and include selections from Dana, Ripley, Emerson, Poe, Ossoli, Lowell, Whitman, Whipple, Stedman, Howells, Lanier, and James. Volume III, “American familiar verse,” edited by Brander Matthews, who is also editing the edition as a whole, contains a, lengthy introduction which defines Familiar verse as—“the lyric of commingled sentiment and playfulness, which is more generally and more carelessly called vers de société.” A rather catholic choice of authors follows—Freneau, J. Q. Adams, Moore, Irving, Bryant, Halleck, Drake, Whittier, Longfellow, Holmes, Saxe, Lowell, Stoddard, Stedman, Aldrich, and many others.
“Two compilations, which are fitted to serve a good purpose in advance English classes.”
| + + | Cath. World. 80: 832. Mr. ‘05. 390w. (Reviews vols. I. and II.) |
“If the succeeding volumes are as capably edited as the three now published, the series will prove of great value in the historical study of our literature. From the character of these three volumes it is evident that the series when complete will place in their proper proportions the successive steps in the evolution of these distinct literary forms. The one unfortunate feature in the general plan of the library is the arbitrary restriction which prohibits a selection from any living American writers whose birth has occurred since December 31, 1850.” W. E. Simonds.
| + + + | Dial. 38: 13. Ja. 1, ‘05. 1350w. |
“The genre of familiar verse is so well adapted to this particular purpose, and Mr. Matthews has shown such skill in selection, that his own volume will probably bear the test of time as the standard anthology. The value of the illustrative material in the others is more doubtful.” G. R. Carpenter.
| + + | Educ. R. 29: 424. Ap. ‘05. 490w. (Reviews vols. I.-III.) | |
| R. of Rs. 31: 250. F. ‘05. 290w. |