The Spoilt Child : a Tale of Hindu Domestic We.
By Peary Chand Mitter (Tek Chand Thakur). Translated by G. D. Oswell. (Thacker, Spink, and Co., Calcutta.) — Babu Peary Chand Mitter, " a well-educated, thoroughly earnest, and courteousi Ben- gali gentleman of the old school," who died in 1883 at the age of sixty-nine, was a literary philanthropist, and the author of various works distinguished by an ardent desire for the elevation of his countrymen, and a fine sympathy with all things that are lovely and of good report. The present work, " Alalar Gharer Duhil," or " The Spoilt Darling of an 11l-regulated House," was originally published some forty years ago, and is considered by critics who speak with authority to be undoubtedly the best novel ever written in the Bengali language. It is, indeed, a singularly faithful picture of the life with which it deals, and the effect of its realistic detail is brightened by a fine humour that is rich in satire yet wholly devoid of cynicism ; but we very much doubt whether it is a book which will find much favour with the ordinary English reader, who will probably think it tedious and dull. I Bengali unacquainted with the details of English life might find the same fault with "The Pickwick Papers ;' and, indeed, there is always a certain risk in trans- lating any work of imagination which can be described as "racy of the soil." One thing, however, is certain, that those who enjoy the book at all, will enjoy it very thoroughly, though they may think that certain Indian critics are a little over-enthusiastic in comparing Babu Peary Chand Mitter with Moliere and Dickens. Eulogy of this kind ii sadly lacking in discretion, and Mr. °swell would have done well to ignore it.
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