icknor & Co.

The work is not to hardly any degree analytical in its character; it is
a vivid panorama of a most deeply and widely interesting career. We are
made familiar by means of these volumes with the daily life of Henry W.
Longfellow. Much of this insight is afforded, as has already been seen,
through the published letters and diary. The interest of these is far
greater than is usually the case with such compilations. Longfellow's
life was to such a degree an intellectual one, that those who would know
him best must find his own pen his best biographer. The comments in his
journal are delightful, and the letters are highly interesting reading.
They are from and to a host of friends, including Sumner, Hawthorne,
Samuel Ward, Park Benjamin, Carlyle, and many others of equal note. Of
course there is much in both letters and journal of personal matters,
even such as regarding an invitation to dine, or some other passing
slight event; but there is no apparent reason why anything should have
been omitted that has been inserted in this work. Not only the poetry
but the every-day life, the experiences, and the associations of
Longfellow are worth knowing to those far beyond the pale of his own
particular group of friends. Nothing has been inserted here, however,
that seems to offend the sense of propriety, and the editor has
certainly given evidence of the best of wisdom, care, and delicacy.
Where he becomes the biographer he confines himself mostly to simple
narrative; indeed, his final "summing up," after the last has been told
that could be told of his illustrious brother's earthly career, is given
in a single page.

There is very little to criticise regarding this Life. Of its kind it
could not be more satisfactory. It is not the work of the theorist, the
analyst, critic, or the eulogist. It is the full, plain, unvarnished
story of the life of "the good son, devoted husband, affectionate
father; the generous, faithful friend; the urbane and cultivated host;
the lover of children; the lover of his country; the lover of liberty
and of peace."

INDEX TO MAGAZINE LITERATURE.

(_APRIL 1886._)

ART, ARCHITECTURE. Slyfield Surrey. _Basil Champneys._ 22.--A Chapter
on Fireplaces. _I. H. Pollen._ 22.--The Romance of Art. _F. Mabel
Robinson._ 22.--The Annunciation in Art. _Julia Cartwright._
22.--American Embroideries. _S. R. Koehler._ 22.--Art in Phoenicia.
_Wm. Holmden._ 22.--Boydell's Shakespeare. _Alfred Beav