Diutiska. By Gustav Soiling. (Trubnor and Co.; Nutt.)—We have in
this volume the first instalment of a historical and critical survey of the literature of Germany, from the earliest period to the present time. Its title is connected (we speak under correction) with the word " thiudisk," which appears to be identical with "Deutsch," and to signify "a native." The volume before us carries us no further than the death of Goethe, the later writers of Germany, whom our author classifies broadly as belonging to the Romantic school, being reserved to form the subject of a separate volume. The plan adopted by Herr Soiling is a very simple ono. Having divided German literature into a few well-marked periods, he begins by a brief essay on each epoch, and then proceeds to give a biographical and critical notice of its writers, accompanied by selections from their works, more or less copious, according to tho importance of the subject. The original matter is, perhaps, rather thin in quality ; the translations of the specimens, some of which are the work of Herr Soiling, are, as a rule, well done. The book is, we presume, intended rather as a guide to those who are ignorant of German literature than as a companion to those who are familiar with it already : and that office it is, we think, well adapted to fulfiL
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