The Swedish Nightingale
The Life of Jenny Lind. Mrs. Raymond Maude, O.B.E. (Cassell. 10s. 6d.) MftS. IlAvmoNn MAUDE had to surmount two difficulties in writing the intimate Life of her mother, Jenny Lind. The first was in describing so near a relation to steer between formality and triviality, the second to render interesting the life of an executive artist who from her circumstances can leave nothing behind her but a great tradition. The author has cleverly overcome these obstacles by combining them. She has given us a dignified and discreet presentment of Jenny Lind's private life, and has shortened the list of the Diva's successes as far as is possible. The book is also redolent of the charm of mid-Victorianism—an age which, whatever its grand-children may say of it, was instinct with graceful sehtimentality.
Jenny Lind sang in the Somnambula—in which real tears (as was once told by a contemporary) rolled down her cheeks— in Norma, in Lucia and in countless other roles which made a great appeal to the superficial emotions. What trills, what shakes, and as the charming letter from Manuel Garcia in his old age tells us what " justesse inebranlable " of tone did she not then display I She owed the fineness of her art, however, largely to this great master of song, whose part in her training is hardly sufficiently emphasized by Mrs. Maude. It is surprising to those who, like the present writer, had the honour of Madame Lind Goldschmidt's personal acquaintance, to hear that she was only 5 feet 5 inches in height. Such was the dignity of her carriage and appearance that she undoubtedly seemed much taller. The book is to be specially commended for its unconscious moral—that it is possible to be at the same time a great artist and a good citizen.
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