Solomon Maimon: An Autobiography Part 17

[96] _Ibid._, pp. 86-7.

[97] _Ibid._, p. 89.

[98] See, for example, _Ibid._, pp. 112, 115, 209, 250-1.

[99] _Ibid._, p.

[100] _Ibid._, pp. 165-6.

[101] _Ibid._, pp. 201-210.

[102] _Ibid._, pp. 183-8.

_Notes on some Books of Special Interest_

PUBLISHED BY

ALEXANDER GARDNER,

PAISLEY AND LONDON.

_AT ALL LIBRARIES._

_JAMES HEPBURN, Free Church Minister._ By SOPHIE F. F. VEITCH, Author of "Angus Graeme, Gamekeeper," etc. 2 vols., Crown 8vo., 21s.

"=A strong story of real life and cannot fail to give Miss Veitch a prominent position among modern novelists.... The whole story is exceedingly powerful.="--_Sat.u.r.day Review._

"The work of fiction which heads the list may fairly be described as =a singularly powerful and fascinating novel=. Description by comparison is frequently convenient, though occasionally misleading; but we do not think we shall convey a wrong impression if we say that 'James Hepburn'

bears a strong resemblance to some of the most vigorous and characteristic of Mrs. Oliphant's realistic Scottish stories.... James Hepburn is one of the most truly heroic characters in recent fiction, with a certain largeness and grandeur in his heroism which are wonderfully impressive, and yet with a homeliness which never permits him to slip for a moment outside the range of our imaginative belief. In creating an ideal character of unmistakable flesh and blood, Miss Veitch has achieved an unequivocal success, and one or two of the pivot situations in the book are conceived and presented with such dramatic power and sympathetic insight, that in virtue of them alone 'James Hepburn' takes place among the most remarkable and admirable of recent novels.... There are chapters in 'James Hepburn' of which we feel convinced that the author of _Scenes of Clerical Life_ would not have been ashamed.... Such a novel is not only a book to admire, but one for which to be grateful."--_The Spectator._

"='James Hepburn' is a novel in two volumes, which is quite startling in the freshness and beauty of its conception.... This book deserves careful reading; there is much more in it than the mere interest of a clever story, and only good can result from its influence.="--_Literary World._

The author of 'Angus Graeme, Gamekeeper,' has produced another Scottish novel of remarkable power. 'James Hepburn, Free Church Minister,' is at once a striking character study, a skilful picture of the social life of a country town and district, and a powerful sensational story. It is in the first of these aspects that it displays most original vigour.... It must be admitted to be one of the strongest productions of the fictional art that have recently appeared."--_Scotsman._

"There can be no question that 'James Hepburn' is the most notable Scottish story that will be issued in the jubilee year."--_The Christian Leader._

"And of this tendency towards pure character-painting and everyday incident Miss Sophie Veitch promises to be the best exponent. In the two volumes which contain the story of episodes in the life of James Hepburn, each character is carefully studied and presented as a finished masterpiece.... The book is a drama palpitating with intense and real life, whose author should have a grand professional future."--_Whitehall Review._

"The book deserves the highest praise. Hepburn's relations with Lady Ellinor--his pure and n.o.ble love for her--are fitly crowned by his splendid self-sacrifice.... The descriptive part of this fine and often brilliant novel is admirably done."--_London Figaro._

"No one who begins this story will pause till he has seen the hero through his troubles, and we are sure no one who has done so will think he has spent his time badly."--_The British Weekly._

_James Hepburn_ is a story of very unusual power, promise, and desert.... The story of Lady Elinor is exceedingly pathetic; and all her moods, as she gradually progresses along a path of peril, are described with a hand at once sure and delicate.--_Academy._

Seldom do we meet with a novel by a comparatively unknown author which can afford such unalloyed pleasure.... It is not every writer who can, like Mrs. Oliphant, throw a glamour over the sordid details of _bourgeois_ life. Amongst the few who can do so Miss Veitch may now claim to rank; her novel is a remarkable one, and if it does not attain to considerable popularity the fault will not be with the author....

There is intense pathos in the loyal struggle of the beautiful young wife who believes herself to be unsympathised with.... We had marked more than one pa.s.sage for quotation, but s.p.a.ce warns us that the pleasure must be forgone. We must, however, draw special attention to Lady Ellinor's withering summary of Radicalism (vol. ii. p. 242). The novel is one of the very few that follows Mr. Weller's recipe, and makes us "wish that there was more of it."--_Pictorial World._

"A SUCCESSFUL SCOTCH NOVEL.--It is long since a Scottish novel met with such a demand or created such a genuine sensation as has attended the publication of 'James Hepburn, Free Church Minister,' which was issued a few weeks ago by Mr. Gardner, of Paisley, and which we noticed in the week of its publication. We hear that already Mr. Mudie has ordered four separate supplies, the latest being for a large number of copies, so great is the demand for the story on the part of the subscribers to his library. Miss Sophie Veitch, the auth.o.r.ess, had already made her mark by her fine novel of 'Angus Graeme, Gamekeeper.'"--_Daily Mail._

"'James Hepburn,' by Miss Veitch, is a _clever and strong_ novel.... Its power and literary skill are undeniable."--_World._

"Novel-readers who may think there is not much promise of entertainment in the t.i.tle which Sophie F. Veitch has chosen for her new story, will commit the common blunder of forming an erroneous judgment from superficial appearances. A more interesting or vigorously-written tale we have not met with for some time back."--_The Scottish Leader._

"A cleverly written story here includes both interesting incident and well-drawn character."--_The Queen._

_SUPPLEMENT TO JAMIESON'S SCOTTISH DICTIONARY._ By DAVID DONALDSON. Now Ready, Price 25s.; Large Paper, 42s.

"The work, taken as a whole, ent.i.tles Mr. Donaldson to the grat.i.tude of all interested in the study of philology, for having performed so thoroughly and so well a difficult and laborious task."--_Scotsman._

"The soundness of the judgment which he has applied to this portion of his herculean task is only equalled by the fulness of his knowledge of those works which cover the whole period of Scottish history, during which the vernacular was written and spoken by all cla.s.ses of society. A very large number of the words in the Supplement are recorded by Mr.

Donaldson for the first time, at least as Scottish words, and of many of them the explanation will be found nowhere else.... Of Mr. Donaldson's work, it may safely be said that it is the most complete and scholarly endeavour that has thus far been made to accomplish a very difficult task."--_Mail._

"On every page we find evidence that Mr. Donaldson has mastered all the works that cover the entire period of Scottish history during which the vernacular was written and spoken by all cla.s.ses of society. He has, furthermore, utilised an extensive personal knowledge derived from the living speech of the people; and alike in the definitions and ill.u.s.trations he displays unfailing soundness of judgment, shown sometimes as much in what he has omitted as in that which is given. An excellent memoir of Dr. Jamieson, admirable both for the fullness of its information and the generous warmth of its spirit, adds to the value of a work without which, we may safely affirm, no Scottish library can henceforth be regarded as complete."--_Leader._

_IDYLL OF THE CAPTIVE KING; and Other Pieces._ With Etchings. By JAMES SHARP. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6s.

"The author gives undoubted evidence of his right to be heard, and our perusal of this volume enables us to commend his wide reading and knowledge of the world, both in its physical and ethical aspects. It is needless to add that Mr. Gardner has done his part admirably."--_The Kelso Chronicle._

"Whether Mr. Sharp's poetry be regarded in the abstract, or as the product of the hours of leisure of a man of business, much of it is commendable, and much is genuine and sound in feeling."--_The Scottish News._

Mr. James Sharp does not miss the occasion in his volume of poems, _The Captive King_ (Alexander Gardner). His Jubilee Ode, like those of better-known bards, scarcely represents his poetic powers, as the following couplet may show:--

/p Much as we love the Prince of Wales, the Princess fair, serene, We want no other sovereign! We want no other Queen!

p/

"Tullibardine's Bride," though a little diffuse, is a readable narrative poem based on a Perths.h.i.+re legend. In other lyrical pieces Mr. Sharp sustains a patriotic vein with fervour.--_Sat.u.r.day Review._

Mr. Sharp's lyrics and shorter pieces, are always pleasing in sentiment, and are often sweet in expression.--_Scotsman._

The book of poems which we introduce to our readers to-day has, we think, amply justified its issue in the beautiful form in which it is presented to the public.... This delightful book will do something to modify that conception, and to show that mercantile pursuits and the exalted, if traditionally prosaic, dignity of Bailies.h.i.+p are not incompatible with a successful cultivation of the Muses. In depicting one of the most tragic chapters in our national annals, Mr. Sharp has attained charming results in his use of those heroic measures which the genius of Scott and of Edmonstone Aytoun has made cla.s.sic, and through which these masters have made the dim shadows that erewhile flitted across the stage of Scottish history to stand forth as living men.... We have directed the attention of our readers to these poems because of their intrinsic merits.--_Strathearn Herald._

If it be the poet's task to feel pleasure in life and discern beauty in nature, to praise virtue and rejoice in love, and make his readers do the same, then Mr. Sharp has succeeded admirably in effecting his purpose.--_Dundee Advertiser._

Mr. Sharp is seen at his best in his shorter poems. In these, as a rule, healthy sentiment is expressed in unpretentious verse.--_Academy._

SECOND AND ENLARGED EDITION.

_LAW LYRICS._ Fcap. 8vo, 3s. 6d.

"The anonymous author of the 'Lyrics'--is he not to be met with among the sheriffs?--plays his tunes for session and vacation on the 'goose-quill of the law,' and he manages to produce from that ancient instrument a considerable variety of expression.... His p.r.o.nounced national tastes are admirably shown in 'Oatmeal,' etc.; in lyrics like 'Stornoway Bay,' there is the true lyrical gush; while in such poems as 'A Still Lake,' there is revealed an exquisite power of word-painting...."--_Scotsman._

"For neatness and aptness of expression, it is equal to anything we have seen."--_Scots Law Review._