Adventures in Criticism. By A. T. Quiller-Couch. (Cassell and Co.)—These
fresh and sparkling criticisms appeared originally in. the columns of a contemporary, and although very brief, justify the writer's hope that they are "worth a second reading." Mr. Quiller-Couch has won his spurs on another field, but it is always pleasant to meet with a critic who has a thorough appreciation of good literature, and this is a prominent mark of the volume. The author can be frank in his confessions, and in acknowledging a prejudice against Charles Kingsley that is "quite ineradicable," he virtually admits an incapacity to estimate his powers. He finds Henry Kingsley's " Ravenshoe " delightful, and "West- ward Ho !" in some parts so detestable that he can never rem) a dozen pages of it without wishing to put the book in the fire. So well does Mr. Quiller-Conch love the younger brother that he wishes it were possible to think him superior to that "very
second-rate man," the author of " Hypatia." This, however, he cannot do. "In literary criticism, as in politics, one may detest.
a man's work while admitting his greatness ; " but how an author can be great and at the same time "very second-rate," the reader is not told. The writer knows, of course, full well that the expression of personal feeling is not criticism, and that he can criticise with power and impartiality will be seen in the judgments passed on several living novelists and poets. We cannot agree with Mr. Quiller-Couch that Thackeray was too severe on Sterne, or that that writer's obscenity is innocuous ;
but he does his best for Sterne in saying, "Alas, poor Yorick ?
He had his obvious and deplorable failings. I never heard that he communicated them. Good humour he has been communi- cating now for a hundred and fifty years."
Previous page
