FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52  
53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   >>   >|  
ely from the set traditions of Dr. Appleton, but most readers will agree that the departure has been justified by the needs of the hour. There is small satisfaction in reading a one-page review from the pen of an Arnold or a Pater; we feel that such authorities should express themselves at length in the pages of the literary monthlies; that the reader of the weekly should be content with the anonymous (and less expensive) review written by the staff-critic. Whatever the personal bias, it is at least certain that under present conditions the _Academy_ appeals more generally to the popular taste. Its recent absorption of a younger periodical is indicated in the compounding of its title into the _Academy and Literature_--a change that does not commend itself on abstract grounds of literary fitness and tradition. A consideration of periodicals of the _Tatler_, _Spectator_ and _Rambler_ class evidently lies beyond our present purpose; though Addison's papers on _Paradise Lost_ and similar articles show an occasional critical intent. The magazines, however, have in various instances shown such an extensive interest in matters literary that a brief account of their development will not be amiss. The primary distinction between the review and the magazine is well understood; the former criticizes, the latter entertains. Hence fiction, poetry and essays are better adapted than book-reviews to the needs of the literary magazine. As already stated, Peter Motteux's _Gentleman's Journal_ (1692-94) probably deserves recognition as the first English magazine, though its brief career is forgotten in the honor accorded to the _Gentleman's Magazine_, established in 1731 by Edward Cave and which, still under the editorship of "Sylvanus Urban, Gentleman," is now approaching its three hundredth volume. In the early days its lists of births, deaths, marriages, bankrupts, events, etc., must have made it a useful summary for the public. In literature it printed merely a "Register of New Books" without comment of any sort. It is exasperating to find such books as _Pamela_ or _Tom Jones_ listed among "New Publications" without a word of criticism or commendation. We could spare whole reams of pages devoted to "Army Promotions" and "Monthly Chronicle" for a few lines of literary review. Although the booksellers refused to aid Cave in establishing his magazine, the demonstration of its success brought forth numerous rivals. As they all followe
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52  
53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
literary
 
magazine
 
review
 
Gentleman
 

Academy

 

present

 

Sylvanus

 

approaching

 

adapted

 

births


fiction

 

poetry

 

reviews

 

hundredth

 

essays

 

volume

 

Journal

 
English
 
Motteux
 

deaths


deserves

 

recognition

 
career
 

forgotten

 

Edward

 

established

 
Magazine
 

stated

 

accorded

 
editorship

Register

 
Monthly
 

Promotions

 

Chronicle

 
Although
 

devoted

 

booksellers

 

refused

 

rivals

 

numerous


followe

 
brought
 
establishing
 

demonstration

 

success

 

commendation

 

criticism

 

literature

 

public

 
printed