Colby, Frank Moore. Imaginary obligations. [*]$1.20. Dodd.
A volume of dogmatic essays. “Some of his best chapters have to do with ‘The business of writing,’ and ‘Literary compulsion.’ ‘The literary temperament’ is treated in a way that makes the reader squirm in his chair. ‘The temptation of authors’ contains a warning to successful and prolific writers. ‘The danger of spreading oneself thin is that the time surely comes when it is done unconsciously. A man thinks it his thought flowing on like that, when it is only his ink.’ The fitness of Mr. Colby’s title, ‘Imaginary obligations,’ is somewhat imaginary.... But a book must have a title, and for a collection of loosely related essays one will serve about as well as another.” (Dial).
“The range of topics is wide, the comments are pointed, and the style is, on the whole, decidedly racy. No reader can fail to enjoy the wit and the satire even when they are directed against some pet hobby of his. The fun is harmless and it may be found to be accompanied by wisdom.”
| + | Boston Evening Transcript. :7. F. 10, ‘05. 250w. |
“Mr. Colby possesses a good measure of shrewd sense, a wholesome hatred of humbug and a keen eye to detect it, a practised pen, and a knack of terse, incisive, and often striking expression. But with these qualities go their defects: aiming to be brilliant and sententious, he occasionally exaggerates and makes phrases.”
| + — | Dial. 38: 20. Ja. 1, ‘05. 430w. | |
| R. of Rs. 32: 126. Jl. ‘05. 60w. |
Cole, Samuel Valentine. Life that counts. [**]75c. Crowell.
This book grew out of a series of addresses given before young people. It deals with some aspects of service but chiefly with certain qualifications of the useful life; viz. sympathy, courage, perseverance and aspiration. These are symbolized by four faces, the face of a man, a lion, an ox, an eagle, the emblem of the four evangelists.
| * | + | Pub. Opin. 39: 733. D. 2, ‘05. 70w. |
Coleridge, Samuel Taylor. Select poems; ed. by Andrew George. 60c. Heath.