CORRESPONDENCE.

SOME MODERN FRENCH BOOKS. [To run EOM. or Me ..13erxraroa.".] SI12,—The literary talent and the extraordinary industry of IL Emile Fagnet have seldom been better displayed than in his recent book, Mgr. Dupanloup (Hachette, 71r. 50c.). It in

it new and most successful volume of the series "Figures du Passe." I am inclined to think it the beet of the series that has yet appeared as to readableness, general interest, and the charm of its subject. Felix Dupanloup was a great Bishop and a great man ; a liberal-minded politician, a leader of souls, a lover of truth, a courageous fighter, and, in his own way, a saint, Hie influence may very well be stronger in the France of to-day than in his own disturbed period of con- troversy and war. Another volume in the same excellent series is Lausuo, by the Duo de La Force (Hachette, Mr. 50c.). If the little courtier of Louis XIV., the supposed husband of the Grande Mademoiselle, had not much real claim to be

11 called a hero, he was certainly a dashing and picturesque figure, a fearless soldier, a humorist, and a philosopher. It

ij would be difficult, indeed, as Saint-Simon bears witness, to choose a more typical example of the seventeenth century in mind and manners than Lauzun, from his gay youth to his caustic old age.

A large use of unpublished documents makes M. Pouget de Saint-Andres book, Le Gen&al Dumouricz (Perrin, 5 fr.), of singular value. History has regarded Dumouriez very doubt- fully till now; if lie is still misunderstood, ignorance of the true facts of his life and character will be the principal reason. Dumouriez, besides being &commander of genius, was a reason- able patriot, and as such bound to displease the extremists on both sides. The Revolution could not forgive his opposition to the Terror and his efforts to save the life of the Ring: the Royalist party had no pardon for the victor of Valmy and Jeinappes. IL de Saint-Andre has done his best to clear the memory of one whom he considers "a great man, victim of circumstances"

The Vicomte de Reiset has added to his gallery of ladies Josephine de Savoie, Comtesse de Provence (Emile-Paul, 7fr. 50c.). He is a kindly biographer, and this melancholy little Princess, the slandered and neglected wife of Louis XVIII., who died at Hartwell before the Restoration, has found in him a defender. She was the one among the Royal exiles who suffered the most morally, perhaps, from the tragic change brought about in their daily lives by the Revolution. Her nervous, restless character, which had found some peace in her gardens at Montrenil, was not strong enough to rise to the heights demanded by adversity. This is a curious, interesting book, and throws light on several historical figures very little known.

An important side of mediaeval history may be studied in Les Bienheureuses Dominicaines (Perrin, 5fr.). The author, IL C. de Ganay, has made deep researches in unpublished local documents concerning the history of the Dominican Order, and sketches in this book the lives of more than twenty of the most famous women connected with it, from the twelfth to the sixteenth century. Many of these women lived in the world, and several of them had considerable influence on the politice and society of their day. One of the later and more interesting, with whom art is familiar, was the Blessed Osanna of Mantua, the honoured friend of the Gonzaga family, who brought up Duke Francesco, the husband of Isabella d'Este, and his brothers and sisters.

The Comte d'Haussonville's recent volume, °tares frangaises et Visions anglaises (Grasset, Mr. 50e.), is in every way delightful. Li his easy and pleasant style, the distinguished Academician writes here of a few of those among his contem- poraries whose names, for one reason or another, will never lose their interest, even if, as he suggests, few of their aims and ideas survive them. Such are the Comte de Paris, EL Dufeuille, Monseigneur d'Hulat, M. de Montalembert, H. de Broglie. In the second half of his book, M. d'Hausson- ville gives his impressions gained during three visits to England. The opinions of so keen and kindly a visitor are well worth attention. As to this the same may be said of H. Jacques Bandbox's Croquis d'Outre-Manehe (Hachette, 3fr. 50e.). Best known in England as a political writer, or rather an authority on the science of politics, we here meet H. Bandbox as a happy Pam& in our Western counties, with the intention, it is true, of studying what he considers the special home of a Radical democracy, but led away by the charm of scenery and associations into enjoyment little alloyed by theories. Like H. d'Haussonville, and with equal sympathy, though from a different point of view, H. Bardonx ends his book with an account of the Coronation of Ring George. The Mtima Farba of H. Mizieres (Hachette, Mr. 50c.) is a collection of articles written with this charming author's usual brilliancy. His subjects range from Xenophon to the latest book of H. Marcel Prevost, Lettres a .Franvoise Mamas', which, by the way, he heartily commends. I may specially mention a short study of the Comtesse de Provence, which bears out what I have said of M. de Reiaet's biography.

Admirers of the late lime. Pierre de Coulevain will read her last book with a melancholy interest. Le Boman Merveilleux (Calmann Levy, 3fr. 50e.) is a study of religion, more particularly of the Christian religion, in its various manifestations and developments. It is, to a certain extent, an attempt to satisfy the human mind by explaining away many things which will survive many such attempts. The last pages, written in failing health, but with the brave spirit natural to the writer, express the intention of finishing her study in Rome. But she did not live to make that journey.

I have had occasion formerly to mention the writings of H. Mercereau, which are greatly admired by a certain school in France. His new book, Paro!es decant la Vie (Figuiere, 3fr. 50e.), is a series of meditations on life and death, in which we are transported "dens le lyrisme metaphysique, le put domains de l'abstraction."

To those students of poetry who know French better than German, I may recommend Amthologie des Lyriques allemands contemporains depuis Nietzsche (Figniere, 5 fr.). The trans- lator and editor is the well-known man of letters, IL Henri Guilbeaux, and poets themselves bear witness that his work is well done. M. Emile Verbaeren writes a preface. A still more valuable book of this nature is La POiiiie fro/seise de Illoyen-Age, edited by M. Charles Oulmont (Meteors de France, 3fr. 50c.). Here we have the original text, with translations and notes, of extracts from early French poetry, ranging from the forerunners of the "Chanson de Roland" to Froissart, and including some of the old dramatic Mysteries. The sub- ject of the book, which is the first volume of a new French Anthology, is treated in a thoroughly attractive as well as a learned way.

IL Ernest Dandet's studies in the history and romance of the Revolution are always worth reading, and Les 'locum dun Terroriste (Grasset, 3fr. 50c.) is no exception. It pictures the lifelong remorse of a man, by nature kindly and humane, who, carried away by the madness of the time, caused the death at Toulon of several innocent persons. The retribution from which neither his own repentance nor the pardon of others could avail to save him is well and powerfully worked out in this pathetic story. La Hands des Habits Holes, by Felix Duquesnel (Fasquelle, 3fr. 50c.), is an amusing novel with a basis of historical fact. The date is about 1843, and the story is that of a famous band of thieves, recruited from all ranks of society, who really devastated Paris and baffled the police at that time. IL Maxims Ferment's talent for brilliant word. painting finds full scope in La Danseuse (A. Lemerre, 3fr. 50e.), a romance of Roman Imperial society which ends with the destruction of Pompeii.

The forest itself lives in M. Jean Nenny's striking novel, Le Boman de is Font (Grasset, 3fr. 50e.). His woodcutters and charcoal-burners are not much more personal than the birds and animals, the trees, the ponds, the mists, storms and sunshine of this world with which he is so marvellously' familiar. One may say that all these are the chorus of the tragi-comedy acted by AL Nesiny's woodland peasants. Les Chose,s Voient, by Edouard Estaunie (Perrin, Mr. 50c.), is a curious and clever novel dealing with the history of an old house in the town of Dijon. Its old-fashioned pieces of furni. tore, hidden away in the garret—clock, mirror, writing-table, and so on—tell each in turn the story of what they have seen of the tragedies that have happened there. Here, again, inanimate things bear witness to words and deeds which unlucky human beings supposed themselves to have spoken and done in absolute secrecy. The book is fascinating, some- times repulsive, always unusual. Though too hopelessly tragical and not a little morbid, M. Henri Ardel's novel La Nuit Tombe . . . (Plon-Nourrit, Mr. 50e.), is redeemed by its pathetic heroine. Unhappily married to a musical artist, she lives for a friendship which promises her a brighter future. But the clouds close down for her on a world which, with her instincts, could never have been satisfy- ing. Les Sources Vices (Plon-Nourrit, If r. 50c.), lightly thrown off by M. Paul Margueritte, is a little romance of French and American noeveaus richss and their varying

fortunes. The author's name is warrant enough for a true study of human nature, touches of real pathos, and an interest which goes on deepening to the end. Two lovable old people,

M. and Mme. de Pomolin, are really the hero and heroine of L'Eau de .Touvence, by Louis Gauthey (Grasset, 3fr. 500.). There is a fresh youthfulness about the story, and a certain want of finish, which suggest that its author is young ; but the characters are so well defined individually, and the scenes so spirited and amusing, that one looks forward with interest to his future work.

A strong dose of disillusion as to the moral and spiritual characteristics of the Norman peasant awaits readers of M. Marc Le Goupils' very clever but painful set of short stories, Le Carrefour (Grasset, 3fr. 50c.). Quite as true to life, but far pleasanter reading, is Mme. Myriam Thelen's Cella d'hier, Ceu.v d'aujourd'hui (Plon-Nourrit, 3fr. 50c.). Her sure touch and intimate knowledge of her country-people are displayed in a series of natural and pathetic studies, which are centred in the figure of La Mere Dalengault, the miller's widow, the head of a family in most respects unworthy of her. This book has a quiet and penetrating charm.—I am, Sir, &c.,

E.