LITERATURE, CONTINENTAL, IN 1887. 



441 



BUS lost his life, the date being, according to 

 the author, B. C. 54. Prof. Bertolini is busily 

 at work on his " History of the Italian Renais- 

 sance," with illustrations ; Dr. C. Bertolini dis- 

 plays much ability in researches into Roman 

 jurisprudence and history ; E. Natale, in his 

 "11 Ghetto di Roma," gives the result of long 

 and careful study, and presents, as it is said, 

 " a pitiful story of abuses, miseries, and perse- 

 cutions" ; and Prof. G. S. del Vecchio has gath- 

 ered numerous facts and observations bearing 

 on the family, as regards society and the social 

 problem. E. Checci has written about the 

 great composer, under the title of " Giuseppe 

 Verdi, il Genio e le Opera " ; and Prof. A. Fa- 

 varo is continuing his labors on the life of Gali- 

 leo. P. d'Ezcola, professor in Turin, has pre- 

 pared a study of the works of Pietro Ceretti, 

 with a biographical sketch. Ceretti was a 

 Hegelian, and wrote voluminously in Latin on 

 his favorite topic. A. Armetes has contrib- 

 uted a thoughtful production to various socio- 

 logical questions of the day, under the title, 

 "La Democrazia e laFinanza; Intemperanza 

 e Freni." He advocates strongly reform in 

 several important matters relating to govern- 

 ment, constitutional ordinances, etc. Among 

 biographical works may be noted, P. D. Paso- 

 lini's " Memorie di Giuseppe Pasolini," noted 

 as a diplomat of high order of ability. Chiola 

 has published the sixth volume of Count Ca- 

 vour's letters edite et inedite; and Ernesto 

 Rossi has brought out his autobiography, in 

 which the great actor gives a picture of the 

 Italian drama during the last forty years. In 

 philosophy we note Luigi Ferri's careful study 

 of the foundation of realism, in which he gives 

 an admirable analysis of both Plato and Aris- 

 totle. Prof. G. Touiolo furnishes an interesting 

 study of " Scolastica ed Umanismo," in which 

 he describes fully the two currents of thought, 

 which were contending together at the time of 

 the renaissance in Tuscany. M. Mancini and 

 U. Galeotti have prepared a practical manual 

 of parliamentary usages, which is highly praised 

 and was greatly needed. Two or three good 

 books on political economy have appeared, of 

 which we may specify that of Carlo Cattaneo, 

 which contains portions of a history of Lom- 

 bardy. Prof. F. Torraca has issued the third and 

 last volume of his " Manuale della Litteratura 

 Italiana," in which are dealt with writers of the 

 seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centu- 

 ries. A. Bartoli has brought out the sixth volume 

 of his great history of Italian literature, which 

 covers the period of the " Divine Comedy " 

 of Dante. In fiction may be noted G. Gloria's 

 four novelle, under the title, "Spicci d'Amore," 

 Displays of Love ; Signora Sperati's " Numeri 

 e Sogni," in which are pleasantly contrasted the 

 ideal and reality in life. A. G. Barilli is author 

 of " The White Blackbird," and three other 

 stories; G. Verga is one of the realists, and 

 writes accordingly about " Vagabondiggio " ; 

 and E. Castelnuovo meets with much success 

 in his "Filippo Bossini, Jr." In poetry we 



must not overlook Dr. D. Ferrari's " History 

 of the Italian Sonnet," which is highly praised. 

 P. Papa, a young poet, has issued a volume of 

 " Madrigali," which are neatly designated as 

 "flowers of field and meadow"; Giuseppi 

 Fracaroli, the translator of Pindar, has pub- 

 lished a volume of " Odi " notable for classic 

 flavor and spirit ; and Giovanni Franciosi has 

 brought out a book of " Carmi," which justify 

 giving him a suitable position on Mount Par- 

 nassus. 



Norway. All the writers of any note seem to 

 have been at rest during the past year. Henrik 

 Ibs'en (Bjornson's twin brother) has not pub- 

 lished anything. He continues to reside in 

 Munich, making only a brief, occasional visit 

 to Norway. Bjornstjerne Bjornson has sim- 

 ply revised his drama " A Glove," and BOW, 

 after five years spent in Paris, has resolved, 

 it is said, henceforth to reside in Norway. He 

 has lately been lecturing on the subject of 

 Chastity, and takes the very highest ground. 

 This has led to something of a controversy 

 with Georg Brandes on this rather difficult 

 as well as delicate topic. Alexander Kielland 

 furnishes a drama, " Betty's Guardian," and a 

 story, " St. John's Festivities," which are not 

 deemed of much account by the critics. Jonas 

 Lie has issued a Christmas story for 1887 en- 

 titled " A Companionship." It is said that he 

 is gradually approaching Zolaism in his writing, 

 which, if true, is much to be regretted. The 

 two patrons of this abominable naturalism are 

 Hans Jaeger and Christian Krogh. Both these 

 brought out books, but the Government inter- 

 fered, confiscated the stuff, and fined Krogh 

 and sent Jaeger to prison. Other works of 

 fiction are J. Paulsen's " A Woman of the Fu- 

 ture " ; L. Dilling's " Gifted," which has at- 

 tained popularity ; C. Flood's " Strong Jan- 

 sen," a romance based on fact; and K. Glo- 

 ersen's collection of short stories. Kristofer 

 Kristofersen (who was noted in last year's 

 record) has made his mark in this department. 

 He has published two capital stories, " Leaf- 

 ing " and "Pioneers," both dealing with life 

 in Norway. Th. Klavcnas has brought out 

 a drama, " A Forgotten One," and a volume 

 of lyrics and satires comes from the pen of Th. 

 Caspari. The edition of A. Hunch's dramatic 

 works (he died in 1884) is not yet completed. 

 In other departments of literature work seems 

 to be advancing slowly. Frils's "Dictionary 

 of the Lappish Language " is about half fin- 

 ished and in type, and Fritzner's " Dictionary 

 of the Old Norse Language " has reached part 

 2. Bugge's "Researches in Northern My- 

 thology " may soon be expected, and the 

 " Norse Mythology " of Dr. R. B. Anderson 

 (American minister to Denmark) has recently 

 been published in Horn's translation. The 

 "Dictionary of Norwegian Authors," by J. B. 

 Halvorsen, has reached part 16 (Guldberg), 

 and the " Norway Illustrated," of Chr. 

 Tousberg. has advanced as far as part 17 

 of the third edition. The account of the North 



