LITERATURE, CONTINENTAL, IN 1886. 



497 



ner; and "The Castles and Ruins of Bohe- 

 mia," by J. Sedlacek. History is also well 

 represented by Tomck, in the seventh volume 

 of his "History of Prague" (1460-78); F. 

 Lernbara's " History of the Middle Ages " ; A. 

 Stein's " History of the Jews " ; and F. Sa- 

 sinck's " Bohemia in the Tenth Century." Dr. 

 F. Backovsky continues bis large work, "The 

 History of Bohemian Literature," and prints 

 also a " Collection of our Best Poetic Treas- 

 ures," in five volumes. A book on the " Dia- 

 lects of Moravia," by F. Bartos, is regarded as 

 a rarity in Bohemian literature. 



Denmark. Danish literature during the year 

 is notable for quantity rather than quality, and 

 critics complain with justice of " over-produc- 

 tion." Several new names occur among the 

 authors, both male and female, who write sto- 

 ries, tales, poetry, etc. ; but no one of com- 

 manding excellence has yet appeared. Among 

 authors of established reputation, who have 

 contributed to literature in 1886, are H. Bang, 

 in " Quiet Existences " ; Schandorph, in " Six 

 Tales " ; H. F. Ewald, in an historical romance, 

 " Niels Ebbeson," etc. A collection of "Po- 

 ems and Fragments" by the distinguished nov- 

 elist, J. P. Jacobson (who died last year), has 

 been published and well received. To the 

 drama, H. Drachmann has contributed an his- 

 torical tragedy, entitled " Alkibiades," and K. 

 Gjellerup another, entitled " St. Just." The 

 critics complain that these are hardly equal to 

 what the public has a right to expect from 

 their pens. Schandorph has brought out a 

 comedy, " Candidates for Election," and 0. 

 Hostrup has produced "The Guards of Ka- 

 ren," both of which are good in their way, 

 but not of remarkable ability. In historical 

 literature, F. Barford's " History of Denmark " 

 (1319-1536) is completed, and is regarded as 

 very valuable. I. F. Dalstrom has published 

 an illustrated " History of the World," in sev- 

 enty parts; N. Bache, also, has finished his 

 elaborate " History of the North," in five 8vo 

 volumes, with several hundred illustrations. 

 Another work deserving mention here is 

 " Denmark Described and Illustrated," by M. 

 Galschodt. It is 4to in size, and the descrip- 

 tions are from the pens of eminent writers. 

 Fourteen parts thus far have been issued. 

 Kalkar's " Dictionary of the Danish Language " 

 is slowly progressing, and gives promise of 

 being highly valuable. Prof. P. Hansen has 

 completed his " Illustrated History of Danish 

 Literature," which reaches from the earliest 

 period to the year 1870. Critics pronounce 

 this work to be the literary event in Denmark 

 for 1886. C. Christensen, in his " Studies in 

 Agrarian History," and A. Nielsen, in " The 

 Danish Peasant," throw much light upon the 

 thoughts and feelings prevalent in the villages 

 at the present day. Several novels by popular 

 American authors (E. P. Roe, L. M. Alcott, 

 Mark Twain, etc.) have appeared in Danish 

 translations. No work in philosophy or aesthet- 

 ics has been produced. It may be mentioned, 

 VOL. xxvi. 32 A 



in conclusion, that Paul B. Du Chaillu, the well- 

 known traveler, has been spending some years 

 in Copenhagen, and preparing a new work on 

 " The Viking Age." It is to be in two vol- 

 umes, and is expected to appear during 1887. 



France. A careful survey of the literature of 

 France during 1886 leads to the conviction 

 that it falls below the level of 1885. This 

 applies to poetry and fiction, as well as to 

 history, philosophy, criticism, etc. In poetry 

 there is a literary clique of men who may be 

 termed madmen or idlers, but who call them- 

 selves decadents. Their chief aim appears to 

 be, under the pretext of symbolism, metaphys- 

 ics, "rare impressions," and the like, to pro- 

 duce something smart, but quite unintelligi- 

 ble to most readers. P. Verlaine and S. Mal- 

 larme are the leaders of this school, which it 

 is expected will die out ere long. Two post- 

 humous poems of Victor Hugo have ap- 

 peared, one of which, tfc The End of Satan," is 

 much praised by the critics on account of its 

 restorationist tendency, the idea being that, at 

 some period in the future, evil will disappear, 

 and Satan be redeemed by love. M. Sully- 

 Prudhomine's " Le Tourment Divin " is ex- 

 ceedingly well done, and deals with the subject 

 of man's despair at his impotency to grasp the 

 final cause of the universe, and to read aright 

 the riddle of the world. A few other pro- 

 ductions inverse deserve mention here, viz. : 

 J. Richepin's " La Mer," a work of genius and 

 merit; J. Rameau's "Life and Death," brill- 

 iant and full of promise; M. Rollinat's 

 "Abime," somewhat gross, but powerful in 

 dealing with the emotions; P. Gauthiez's 

 " Les Voix Errantes," which possesses real 

 merit ; and M. Zenon-Fiere's " Le Livre des 

 Ames," a work of consummate art and skill. 

 Turning to novels, we find that the number 

 published in 1886 is almost incredible. Real- 

 ism appears to be triumphant everywhere, and 

 on the increase. By realism is meant, not the 

 coarse naturalism of Zola and his thousand im- 

 itators, but the exact study of the entire man, 

 bringing out the moral element, and striving to 

 elevate and improve the race. Pierre Loti is 

 one of the best specimens of this sort of real- 

 ism. He is characterized as " profoundly hu- 

 man, and uniting the feelings of honor, of duty, 

 of family affection, and of devotion to the 

 country, which he serves as a naval officer, 

 with a marked liking for beings whom he has 

 met in all parts of the globe, and whom he 

 clothes with native beauty and nobleness." 

 His "Ariyade," "Mon Frere Yves," " Le Ro- 

 man d'un Spahi," and "Pdcheur d'Islande," 

 are highly praised, and the author bids fair to 

 become illustrious in French literature. Zola r s 

 new novel, " L'CEuvre," has been severely and 

 deservedly criticised. It is a much worse book 

 than " Germinal," and that was certainly bad 

 enough (as was noted in last year's review). 

 After Zola come Neaupassant, De Goncourt, 

 and Huysmans, who are followed by a host of 

 imitators, who deal largely in the worst sort of 



