Morris: Irving's Fiction in France 



15 



feel a current of poetic re very" (p. 35) ; " 'The Angler' and ^Rural Life 

 in England' are pictures full of freshness or poetic feeling for nature" 

 the tales of the Alhambra constitute a ' 'poetic journey," says Saint- 

 Fargeau (p. 354); while Quesnel asserts that '^Hig works are almost 

 all poems in prose" (p. 125). 



It has been claimed also that he is something of a moralist. In 

 the History of New York, ''points of view full of morality" have been 

 found. 2^ According to M. Mezieres, Cooper is a novelist while Irving 

 is a moralist (p. 362). It has been pointed out that sometimes the 

 moralist is almost invisible. "In the most amusing and most gro- 

 tesque scenes [of the Sketch-book] are concealed the teachings of a 

 sage."^° "The Sketch-hook/^ in the judgment of "E. D.", "is a series of 

 sketches and essays which breathe the most wholesome morality" 

 (p. 523). Still another, "T. C", finds that his paintings "bear the 

 impress of that serene morality which makes him comparable, in 

 certain respects, to Bernardin de Saint-Pierre" (p. 398). Sometimes, 

 on the other hand, the moralist is too much in evidence and draws 

 upon himself the reproach of being "too paternal". 



An element of satire has also been observed in him, light, playful, 

 or vigorous. "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is said to be "per- 

 meated with delicate, very delicate satire of the political manners of 

 the times" in "The Art of Book-making" and "Little Britain," there 

 have been discerned the "charms of a playful, mocking imagination" 

 in "The Art of Book-making" and "The Country Church", it shows 

 itself, according to M. Fie vet, "light and amusing" (p. v), while in 

 the History of New York it is "rather vigorous". His satire is said 

 to be distinguished especially for its kindliness. The History of New 

 York is a "playful and very kindly satire of contemporary manners 

 and government," says M. Sedley (p. viii). "It is a satire," declares 

 M. Haussaire, "that likes to scratch but never bites nor insults" 

 (p. 13). The Grande Encyclopedic describes him as "a critic without 

 bitterness or anger". 



Finally, he is recognized as a humorist. "The Legend of Sleepy 

 Hollow" is a "fanciful sketch of irresistible humor," says M. Haussaire; 

 M. Milne characterizes the Tales of a Traveler as "humorous and 

 fantastic stories" (p. ix); in the History of New York, styled a 



23 Fievet, p. v. 



29 Globe, 1827, p. 415. 



30 Sedley, p. vii. 



31 Gourmont. 



32 Haussaire, 13. 



33 Rosenzweig, p. viii. 



34 Globe, 1827, p. 415. 



