Twice-told Tales, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are of American origin, and
may have appeared in some American periodical publication un- known to us. They consist of a series of tales, and of descriptive pieces such as Washington Irving carried to the highest pitch of excellence. The miscellaneous writings of Irving, indeed, appear to be the au- thor's model ; though less in mere style than in subjects and treat- ment. Mr. Hawthorne has a liking for tales that mingle together the humorous, grotesque, and supernatural, to be half or wholly " ex- plained " : he luxuriates in the repose of the quiet out-of-the-way old New England villages ; and rather likes the old colonial manners, when there were English governors, and recognized classes, and even an aristo- cracy in the older States. Mr. Hawthorne has not the same finished ele- gance of style as Geoffrey Crayon, nor does he bring out his pictures with .80 much strength of drawing or colouring; but Twice-told Tales will be foand an agreeable book for idle reading. The papers are not bad in themselves, and they possess an attraction in their quiet portraiture of former American opinion and life.
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