GEORGE SAND AND HER LOVERS.
George Sand and her Lovers. By Francis Gribble. (E. Nash. 15s.)—Mr. Francis Gribble has done his work in this volume, as in his "Madame de Steel and her Lovers," very well, so very well, indeed, as to make us question the truth of the opening sentence in his preface French literary lives, as a rule, are interesting ; English literary lives, as a rule, are not." He says a good deal about " the British matron," and quotes Madame Karenine's question-begging phrase, " British prudery." He at least cannot be accused of paying too much respect to either. He tears away from the " romance " of George Sand's life all drapery that had been loft in the shape of " hypocrisy." He exhibits her as she was, a grisette by blood and instincts, and in the whole conduct of her emotional life. If the story of her " romances " was worth telling in full, which is questionable, here it is told undoubtedly with perfect fulness. Whether it is prudery or not, we infinitely prefer the final chapters—in which Mr. Gribble tells of George Sand's friendship with Flaubert, of her "growing old in dignity," and of the genuine importance of her novels—to those in'which he expounds his purpose and fulfils his self-imposed mission. It must be allowed, however, that Mr. Gribble's book, except for one or two passages in which he seems to protest too much, is exceedingly well written. Alto- gether, this volume will be valuable, from the literary and sociological points of view, as throwing a sidelight on the Romantic Movement in France. Whether it is a permanent contribution to the "literature of the heart" is quite another matter.
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