CONCERNING LAFCADIO HEARN.
Concerning Lafcadio Hearn. By George M. Gould, M.D. (T. Fisher Unwin. 8s. 6d. net.)—Dr. Gould disclaims the intention of writing a biography. He thinks, indeed, that no biography of the man should be written. But he believes that for the interpretation of his literary work some life facts are wanted. This want he supplies to the best of his power. Very possibly he is right ; yet some readers, we are sure, will be sorry that these pages have been written. They are singularly painful. Many things were against Hearn,—hereditary tendencies, unfavourable circumstances, a will that seemed incapable of discipline, and a brilliant imagina- tion that threw a glow over many mean things. And yet we cannot find fault with the book. It presents a very curious picture ; and if it leaves a painful impression, one feels at the same time that it makes, or ought to make, for righteousness. Hearn was born about 1850, and was weighted with a physical weakness, a grievously defective eyesight, which practically limited his life- work to literature. His early work was of no great importance. It was that of a journalist, above the average, doubtless, of such writing, but not good enough to command any general recognition. His first book, as we learn from the bibliography carefully put together by Miss Laura Stedman, appeared in 188k No new edition was called for till other things had made him famous. He found himself when he went to Japan. "It is plain," writes Dr. Gould, "that the Japanese period and work crown his life- labours splendidly, and that his masterful pictures of Japanese character, traditions, and religion now constitute one of our most precious literary treasures." He went to Japan in 1890, and he lived there for some fourteen years. Possibly it would have been well if we bad known nothing more of the author than the name upon the title-page of his books.
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