12 DECEMBER 1874, Page 24

.Mokeanna, and other Tales. By F. C. Hartland. (London: Bradbury,

Agnew, and Co.)—These parodies of novels by /ifiss Braddon, Charles Reade, and others, are, of coarse, full of amusing nonsense and clever extravaganza and burlesque, and keep as close -as utter nonsense can keep to the style of the authors imitated. But we must confess to finding them much too much of a good thing when read as complete works, and not by a chapter at a time in Punch. Mr. Burnand's talent shines infinitely brighter when he is describing the adventures of his very foolish but very possible hero of the "Happy Thoughts." Besides, this imitation of sensation novelists is getting common, and Bret Harte outdoes Mr. Burnand in exquisitely humorous adherence to the text of the story parodied, as well as in a greater subtlety in detecting and a more delicate genius in transferring to his own story the characteristics and weaknesses of his originals. Mr. Burnand in literature is like Sothern on the stage,—he has much general power, but only one great creation.