Part 30
IN each of these volumes the object will be to give an anthology of the humorous literature of the particular nation dealt with. France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Spain, and Holland will each have their respective volumes; England, Ireland, and Scotland will each be represented, as will also America and Japan. ‘From China to Peru’ the globe will be traversed in search of its jokes, in so far as they have recorded themselves in literature. The word Humour admits of many interpretations; for the purposes of this Series it has been interpreted in its broadest generic sense, to cover humour in all its phases as it has manifested itself among the various nationalities. Necessarily founded on a certain degree of scholarly knowledge, these volumes, while appealing to the literary reader, will nevertheless, it is hoped, in the inherent attractiveness and variety of their contents, appeal successfully and at once to the interest of readers of all classes. Starting from the early periods of each literature--in Italy, for instance, from the fourteenth century, with Boccaccio, Sacchetti, and Parabosco; in France with the amusing Fabliaux of the thirteenth century; in Germany from Hans Sachs; characteristic sketches, stories, and extracts from contemporary European and other writers whose genius is especially that of humour or _esprit_ will be given. Indicating and suggesting a view and treatment of national life from a particular standpoint, each volume will contain matter suggestive of the development of a special and important phase of national spirit and character,--namely, the humorous. Proverbs and maxims, folk-wit, and folk-tales notable for their pith and humour, will have their place; the eccentricities of modern newspaper humour will not be overlooked. Each volume will be well and copiously illustrated; in many cases artists of the nationalities of the literatures represented will illustrate the volumes. To each volume will be prefixed an Introduction critically disengaging and marking the qualities and phases of the national humour dealt with; and to each will be appended Notes, biographical and explanatory.
INTERNATIONAL HUMOUR.
_Cloth Elegant, Large Crown 8vo, Price ³⁄₆ per vol._
Among the early Volumes will be the following:--
THE HUMOUR OF FRANCE. Translated, with an Introduction and Notes, by Elizabeth Lee. With numerous Illustration by Paul Frénzeny.
THE HUMOUR OF GERMANY. Translated, with an Introduction and Notes, by Hans Müller-Casenov. With numerous Illustrations by C. E. Brock.
THE HUMOUR OF ITALY. Translated, with an Introduction and Notes, by A. Werner. With 50 Illustrations and a Frontispiece by Arturo Faldi.
THE HUMOUR OF RUSSIA. Translated, with Notes, by E. L. Boole, and an Introduction by Stepniak. With 50 Illustrations by Paul Frénzeny.
THE HUMOUR OF HOLLAND. Translated, with an Introduction and Notes, by A. Werner. With Numerous Illustrations.
THE HUMOUR OF SPAIN. Translated, with an Introduction and Notes, by S. Taylor. With numerous Illustrations.
THE HUMOUR OF AMERICA. Edited, with an Introduction and Notes, by J. Barr (of the _Detroit Free Press_). With numerous Illustrations by C. E. Brock.
To be followed by volumes representative of ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, IRELAND, JAPAN, etc. The Series will be complete in about twelve volumes.
LONDON: WALTER SCOTT, LTD., 24 WARWICK LANE.
SPECIMEN ILLUSTRATION.
LONDON: WALTER SCOTT, LTD., 24 WARWICK LANE.
_AUTHORIZED VERSION._
_Crown 8vo, Cloth, Price 6s._
PEER GYNT: A Dramatic Poem. BY HENRIK IBSEN.
TRANSLATED BY WILLIAM AND CHARLES ARCHER.
_This Translation, though unrhymed, preserves throughout the various rhythms of the original._
“In _Brand_ the hero is an embodied protest against the poverty of spirit and half-heartedness that Ibsen rebelled against in his countrymen. In _Peer Gynt_ the hero is himself the embodiment of that spirit. In _Brand_ the fundamental antithesis, upon which, as its central theme, the drama is constructed, is the contrast between the spirit of compromise on the one hand, and the motto ‘everything or nothing’ on the other. And _Peer Gynt_ is the very incarnation of a compromising dread of decisive committal to any one course. In _Brand_ the problem of self-realisation and the relation of the individual to his surroundings is obscurely struggling for recognition, and in _Peer Gynt_ it becomes the formal theme upon which all the fantastic variations of the drama are built up. In both plays alike the problems of heredity and the influence of early surroundings are more than touched upon; and both alike culminate in the doctrine that the only redeeming power on earth or in heaven is the power of love.”--Mr. P. H. WICKSTEED.
London: WALTER SCOTT, LIMITED, 24 Warwick Lane.
_Foolscap 8vo, Cloth, Price 3s. 6d._
THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL (Or “REVIZÓR.”)
A RUSSIAN COMEDY.
BY NIKOLAI VASILIYEVICH GOGOL.
Translated from the original Russian, with Introduction and Notes, by A. A. SYKES, B.A., Trinity College, Cambridge.
Though one of the most brilliant and characteristic of Gogol’s works, and well-known on the Continent, the present is the first translation of his _Revizór_, or Inspector-General, which has appeared in English. A satire on Russian administrative functionaries, the _Revizór_ is a comedy marked by continuous gaiety and invention, full of “situation,” each development of the story accentuating the satire and emphasising the characterisation, the whole play being instinct with life and interest. Every here and there occurs the note of caprice, of naïveté, of unexpected fancy, characteristically Russian. The present translation will be found to be admirably fluent, idiomatic, and effective.
London: WALTER SCOTT, LIMITED, 24 Warwick Lane.
IBSEN’S FAMOUS PROSE DRAMAS.
EDITED BY WILLIAM ARCHER.
Complete in Five Vols. Crown 8vo, Cloth, Price ³⁄₆ each. Set of Five Vols., in Case, ¹⁷⁄₆; in Half Morocco, in Case, ³²⁄₆.
“_We seem at last to be shown men and women as they are; and at first it is more than we can endure.... All Ibsen’s characters speak and act as if they were hypnotised, and under their creator’s imperious demand to reveal themselves. There never was such a mirror held up to nature before: it is too terrible.... Yet we must return to Ibsen, with his remorseless surgery, his remorseless electric-light, until we, too, have grown strong and learned to face the naked--if necessary, the flayed and bleeding--reality._”--SPEAKER (London).
VOL. I. “A DOLL’S HOUSE,” “THE LEAGUE OF YOUTH,” and “THE PILLARS OF SOCIETY.” With Portrait of the Author, and Biographical Introduction by WILLIAM ARCHER.
VOL. II. “GHOSTS,” “AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE,” and “THE WILD DUCK.” With an Introductory Note.
VOL. III. “LADY INGER OF ÖSTRÅT,” “THE VIKINGS AT HELGELAND,” “THE PRETENDERS.” With an Introductory Note and Portrait of Ibsen.
VOL. IV. “EMPEROR AND GALILEAN.” With an Introductory Note by WILLIAM ARCHER.
VOL. V. “ROSMERSHOLM,” “THE LADY FROM THE SEA,” “HEDDA GABLER.” Translated by WILLIAM ARCHER. With an Introductory Note.
The sequence of the plays _in each volume_ is chronological; the complete set of volumes comprising the dramas thus presents them in chronological order.
“The art of prose translation does not perhaps enjoy a very high literary status in England, but we have no hesitation in numbering the present version of Ibsen, so far as it has gone (Vols. I. and II.), among the very best achievements, in that kind, of our generation.”--_Academy._
“We have seldom, if ever, met with a translation so absolutely idiomatic.”--_Glasgow Herald._
LONDON: WALTER SCOTT, LIMITED, 24 WARWICK LANE.
Crown 8vo, about 350 pp. each, Cloth Cover, 2s. 6d per vol.
Half-polished Morocco, gilt top, 5s.
COUNT TOLSTOÏ’S WORKS.
The following Volumes are already issued--
A RUSSIAN PROPRIETOR. THE COSSACKS. IVAN ILYITCH, AND OTHER STORIES. MY RELIGION. LIFE. MY CONFESSION. CHILDHOOD, BOYHOOD, YOUTH. THE PHYSIOLOGY OF WAR. ANNA KARÉNINA. 3s. 6d. WHAT TO DO? WAR AND PEACE. (4 VOLS.) THE LONG EXILE, AND OTHER STORIES FOR CHILDREN. SEVASTOPOL. THE KREUTZER SONATA, AND FAMILY. HAPPINESS.
Uniform with the above.
IMPRESSIONS OF RUSSIA.
BY DR. GEORG BRANDES.
London: WALTER SCOTT, LIMITED, 24 Warwick Lane.
NEW TWO-VOLUME SETS, IN NEW BROCADE BINDING.
_4s. PER SET, IN SHELL CASE TO MATCH._
MALORY’S HISTORY OF KING ARTHUR 2 Vols.
ENGLISH FAIRY TALES } IRISH FAIRY TALES } ”
HEINE’S PROSE } HEINE’S TRAVEL-SKETCHES } ”
WHITE’S SELBORNE } MITFORD’S OUR VILLAGE } ”
WHITMAN’S SPECIMEN DAYS } WHITMAN’S DEMOCRATIC VISTAS } ”
London: WALTER SCOTT, LIMITED, 24 Warwick Lane.
NEW EDITION IN NEW BINDING.
In the new edition there are added about forty reproductions In fac-simile of autographs of distinguished singers and instrumentalists, including Sarasate, Joachim, Sir Charles Hallé, Paderewsky, Stavenhagen, Henschel, Trebelli, Miss Macintyre, Jean Gérardy, etc.
* * * * *
_Quarto, cloth elegant, gilt edges, emblematic design on cover, 6s. May also be had in a variety of Fancy Bindings._
THE MUSIC OF THE POETS: A MUSICIANS’ BIRTHDAY BOOK.
EDITED BY ELEONORE D’ESTERRE KEELING.
THIS is a unique Birthday Book. Against each date are given the names of musicians whose birthday it is, together with a verse-quotation appropriate to the character of their different compositions or performances. A special feature of the book consists in the reproduction in fac-simile of autographs, and autographic music, of living composers. Three sonnets by Mr. Theodore Watts, on the “Fausts” of Berlioz, Schumann, and Gounod, have been written specially for this volume. It is illustrated with designs of various musical instruments, etc.; autographs of Rubenstein, Dvorâk, Greig, Mackenzie, Villiers Stanford, etc., etc.
London: WALTER SCOTT, LTD., 24 Warwick Lane.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Scaramuccio and Pierrot represent species of buffoons of the early theatre.--ED.
[2] This was a thrust at Göttingen, which town Heine here couples with six others, notorious as the local scenes in comic literature.
[3] The name of a gigantic cask of wine of 1624, one of the special sights of the Bremen Rathskeller. It is tapped only on great occasions, and in 1870 the town of Bremen sent a number of bottles of this wine to the Emperor William and Prince Bismarck at Versailles, as a valuable gift of honour.--ED.
[4] The Devil is the speaker.
[5] Even at the present day persons conspicuously marked in a student’s fray are not allowed to enter the theological profession, unless there is a fair prospect that the scar may be hidden under a prospective beard.
[6] The Duke was a pronounced woman-hater, and objected most vehemently to the contraction of marriages by persons in any way connected with his little court. The Konrektor intended to profit by this interview as a means of influencing the Duke in favour of a young runner who had been imprisoned for the crime of making love.
[7] Reuter and his companions were at this time political prisoners at the fort of Dömitz, in Mecklenburg, his sentence of death having been converted into one of thirty years’ imprisonment.
[8] In a previous number of the _Salon_ Lindau had published a keenly satirical article on Professor Minckwitz’s writings, culminating in a parody on his style, entitled, “The Death of a Youthful Hero,” and purporting to be an extract from the professor’s epic poem.
[9] A modern German Literature written by Professor Minckwitz.
[10] Vulgar for Nichto, nothing.
[11] _Carcer_, a place of imprisonment common to German gymnasiums and universities.
[12] A small town near Berlin.
Corrections
p. 40
FRAU MONGENROTH. FRAU MORGENROTH.
p. 165
toward Neu-Bradenburg, toward Neu-Brandenburg,
p. 168
“_Oh, thou monster!_” said Langwickel “_Oh, thou monster!_” said Langnickel
p. 246
Barbara walked slowly away to make up the beds in the _refenetle_. Barbara walked slowly away to make up the beds in the _rafenetle_.
p. 318
It is unnecessay to say anything It is unnecessary to say anything
p. 373
could scarcely he regarded could scarcely be regarded