500 



LITERATURE, CONTINENTAL, IN 1890. 



still a matter of interest to Belgians, and a num- 

 ber of volumes were published respecting it dur- 

 ing 1890. M. A. J. Wauters, in a volume de- 

 voted to "Stanley au Secours d'Emin," gave a. 

 foretaste to the great explorer's book, published 

 subsequently. The school of " Young Belgium " 

 is as active as ever, though only a few volumes of 

 poetry and contributions to the drama have been 

 brought out this year. Popular songs have re- 

 ceived a large share of attention from the Society 

 of Walloon Literature of Liege and M. F. Van 

 Duyse. The chief event in Flemish literature 

 was the appearance of a posthumous novel by 

 Henri Conscience. In poetry, two young ladies 

 have made their mark one, Mile. H. Swarth, in 

 " Mourning Violets," the other, Mile. Hilda Ram, 

 in her " Poems." The drama is indifferently rep- 

 resented this year. We may name one histor- 

 ical play as well spoken of, viz., " Death of Earl 

 Charles the Good, 1127," by M. J. Planequaert. 

 In history there is not much which requires men- 

 tion. M. F. de Potter has brought out Vol. V. 

 of his exhaustive description of the streets and 

 buildings of the city of Ghent. Two books of 

 travel are praised by the critics, " In Spain," by 

 M. Van Steenweghen, and " A Winter in the 

 South," by Mile. V. Leveling. M. Pol de Mont, 

 the eminent poet, in addition to collecting in 

 two volumes a great number of prose studies on 

 French, Provencal, Flemish, and Dutch writers, 

 has published a volume of the same kind con- 

 cerning contemporary German writers. From 

 this we learn something of the felibres in the 

 south of France, who are striving to revive the 

 language and literature of the Troubadours in 

 the middle ages. 



Bohemia. Numerous works were published 

 this year in Bohemia, the larger portion of which 

 are regarded as valuable. Especially is this true 

 of poetry. The national and romantic schools 

 are still struggling together, the latter being dis- 

 tinguished for pessimism, for the most part. J. 

 Sladek created a sensation by fiery and patriotic 

 lyrics, " Rural Songs and Bohemian Sonnets." 

 A large collection of patriotic songs comes from 

 Irrna Geissel. under the title, " Z. Podkzkonosi." 

 The romantic school productions rather pre- 

 dominate this year. J. Vzchlichy, originator of 

 the school, stands foremost in his "Days and 

 Nights " and " Bitter Kernels." Some new writ- 

 ers have appeared, as Ant. Close, J. Simon, A. 

 Klasterchy, etc. Narrative poems of superior 

 merit have been published during the year, of 

 which " Historic Songs." by F. Chain pa (recently 

 deceased), are admirable specimens. J. Zeyer's 

 stories are spoken of very favorably. Fiction 

 has been cultivated with success during 1890. 

 Jirasek, as noted in last year's record, is consid- 

 ered to be the best writer of novels and tales. 

 His "Collected Works" are in process of publi- 

 cation. F. Schultz, J. Brann, V. Vleck, J. Svatch, 

 and some others, are named with approbation in 

 this kind of literature. M. A. Simacek's novel 

 ' Two Brothers." and J. Hermann's short stories, 

 u From Corners of Prague," are favorably noticed 

 by the critics. Moravian writers also stand well 

 in this department, such as V. Kosmak,G. Preiss, 

 K. Svetlu, J. Herben, E. Jelinck, etc. The drama 

 has been cultivated with vigor and success. E. 

 Bozdech's " A General without an Army " is 

 probably the best, its plot being lively, delinea- 



tion of character and manners excellent, and 

 its dialogue sprightly. J. Vzchlichy's historical 

 drama " The Brothers " is very effective in style 

 and execution, as is also " The Wooing of Pelops." 

 In other departments of literature the record for 

 Bohemia is almost a blank. 



Denmark. Publications during the year are 

 about the same in number, but few, compara- 

 tively, are pronounced to be worthy of note in 

 regard of belles-lettres, properly speaking. In 

 history a young author, N. Neergaard, has begun 

 a work on a large scale, " The Period of the Con- 

 stitution of June, 1849," in which he purposes to 

 tell of the political history of Denmark during 

 1848-'66. A. Thors5a has completed his elab- 

 orate work " The Reign of Frederick VIII." 8. 

 Thrige continues his *' History of Denmark in 

 our Century," and T. Lund adds a tenth volume 

 to his learned " History of Denmark and Nor- 

 way at the Close of the Sixteenth Century." 

 "A History of the Danish Stage." richly illus- 

 trated, comes from the pen of P. Hansen.* "Life 

 in Copenhagen in Old and Recent Times," by J. 

 Daviden, is much praised. Several biographical 

 writings have appeared, among which may be 

 named here : " Thorwaldsen, his Life and 

 Works," by S. Miller, and "The Confidential 

 Correspondence of Frederick VI with Norway, 

 1809." G. Brandes has published two volumes 

 of " Essays," characterized by his well-known 

 skill and ability. Poetry and fiction maintain 

 their place in public esteem. K. Gjellerup deals 

 with the always old, and yet ever new theme, in 

 his " The Book of my Love," and C. Richard, an 

 aged poet, celebrates'with patriotic vigor the dif- 

 ferent portions of his native land. Novelists 

 have generally confined themselves to tales and 

 shorter stories this year. It may suffice to men- 

 tion a few here, such as S. Bauditz's "In the 

 Twilight," Mrs. Senior-ring's " Fra Tyllands 

 Vesthyst," Maaghen's " The New," T. Mahrer's 

 " The 'Seven Miracles of the World," etc. There 

 were no publications in philosophy this year. In 

 theology we may name one good, useful book, 

 " The Five Book's of Moses, a Guide to the Crit- 

 ical Reading of the Bible," by A. C. Larsen. 

 Several books of travel have been published, 

 among the best of which is L. Ussing's " Lower 

 Egypt." The new periodicals spoken of in last 

 year's record, as having bright prospects, have 

 expired for lack of sustenance in the way of sub- 

 scribers, etc. 



France. This year politics have had less than 

 usual to do with literature, properly speaking. 

 French poetry has assumed somewhat of a new 

 phase. There is a marked determination to pro- 

 test against pessimism. Romanticism seems to 

 have died out. Even Victor Hugo, the idol of a 

 certain number of French people, does not hold 

 the same overpowering rank, amounting almost 

 to worship. Two dramas may be named, but 

 rather as failures than successes, viz., " Amy 

 Robsart," in a new edition, and " Futura," by M. 

 Vacquerie, a pupil of Hugo's ; this latter is said 

 to be a sort of sequel to Goethe's " Faust." M. 

 Julian Tiersot's " Histoire de la Chanson Popi:- 

 laire en France " is highly commended by com- 

 petent judges. A new volume of " Corresporid- 

 ance de Flaubert " has been published ; it has a 

 certain genuine interest, but is regarded largely 

 de trap. M. F. Fabre has well illustrated cleri- 



