On this page

• Text (2)

  Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

  • 

    1094 The Publishers' Circular Oct. i, 18...

  • 

    m-m^-W — MAGAZINES FOR THE MONTH.

• Transcript

  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

    Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

    Beviews And Reviewing.

    ——————— ¦ , a the smart least and passing witty jud essay gment on its on subject the work , -without or indi in

    eating , beyond cursorily , what its contents are like . Here then , as we say , the interests of the reader - » » hav a » v v e been consulted »> » - »•• at « a » rather fc . ak . ^ ar than % > afcir » the »»>» ar author « af - » — ¦"" ——¦ " ¦ "' ^— . *¦ ' ^^ r ¦> n ^« " ' ¦^ *¦¦ " ¦ ¦» _^** ^* . " * " . —¦ ¦** ^¦ * ¦¦ , ¦ . ¦¦ . ^ . ¦» " **¦* "^^* - ^**¦

    of the book . Who , we may inquire , would n 6 t ¦ few prefer ¦ extract -ar mmm a -mr a livelj « s th r , rown entertaining r in here abt article and there , with v ^ a * to may a heavy be a

    anal ^ a- w v ysi ^* s ^ of ^ ^ mr »^ r ^^ the * w aaj ^ S ^ " work 1 _^ V V ^*»^ a , »* K 4 appreci h ^^ a ^ < ab ' •^^ % > V ative ^ **«¦ ^^ a » ^^ ^* 4 ( ^ it ^ aK may , a ^^ V ^ r ^ BfW be afc ^ fc , but ^* "v v V unutterably dull and wearisome ? Again , another often-repeated complaint is that books are left

    over , while other and less meritorious works are soon noticed . No doubt it is not altogether agreeable ¦ - for ¦•»¦ an author -mrmr thu aha ¦ s to see the ar worki of aBM his ¦

    —— — — -mw — — » w ^ o aw * ^* — aa , - "ar ^ a > »* >» *^ m > «¦» ** ^ m * »—r ^* r ^^ * »^\^ W w ^ a » a *> &») ^^ " r «» Pk ** aft brain er all and to consider pen apparentl , not what y slig he hted himself , but thinks he has , , or what aj- — ' his ¦ waja- friends h aa » . ^ Bj ¦¦ ^ speciall Viar ri interested al rffe in his

    s ubject —~ v " ~ . ^ may — ^ think ^>^^ a ^ -w , ^ wmr but a ^^ ^^ * a the ^ ^ a ^^^^^ op * y V inions ar - ^^ ^*^ ^^^ and a ^ r a ^ ^^ ^ r ** inclina ^*^ m ** m amaffa a » - «^ tions of the readers of the magazine thfe book or pajper .

    The The editor editor will will naturally naturallv select s ^ l ^ nt the book that that affords tuents . most opportunity of pleasing his

    consti-A third frequent cry is that books are not read . Here again the irrational nature of the author displays upon which itself you . have My dear expended Sir , the so much heavy valuable quarto

    instructive labour is unexceptionable and erudite s . ubject It deals , tre with ated a in most an exceeding But unfortunat ly exhaustive ely it is and caviare practi , to 6 al the manner general . public ¦——— ¦— — — ^ who « - » care W Wa ^ little ¦ " * fc « # f about «^ V it \ S . How V / can \/

    expect - --m , the - - >™ r ordinary -v » a > - **¦ « reviewer « .. a » - >^ W ^ r \* r « A W to wade ~ ¦ through * 1 H you the 7 ^>^ whole of comprehensiveif somewhat

    tedious , treatise your in order to give it , a ten-line notice , which which is is all all the the space sr > ace he he can can afford afford I ? Instead Tnstfta ^ of of

    few an exhau lines stive giving revi in . ew general of your term book s the , you contents have of a

    yotir work and its object , without any definite opinion -v ^ j— - ^— ¦ - — ~^~ i ¦ as ^ " - ^^ to ^ v ^>^ its ^^ ^^ n ^ merits I I M > ^ h ^ ^^ ^^ ^^ l-ii f or ^^^ r ^^ method . k ^ Jfr ^^ ^^ rfb ^ h 1 ^^ ^ h ^^ of ^^^ Jb treatment ^^^ fc ^ _^ a i ^ tf «/ Jk « ibJk ^^ r ^ K ^ k ^^ ^ . ^ r ^ f ^ pv ¦ * ^ A ^^^ b a ^ ' ' ^

    If What more desire than a more this have detailed you a review right to expect must ? send you your work to a paper specially , interested you

    in your studies , whose readers are learned savants like yourself . work There is invari is one ably class read of . writer This , is however the novelist , whose .

    author And still chiefl lie is not lains happy of . is Wh that at this the reviewer form of onl — — — " ~ W y too " ¦* ^¦* ^^ frequentl •^• um ^ ' ^ y ""* comp ^""—¦ *^"" y 7 g y ^ ives " •¦ * ^ - 'b , ^ a » - ^ M bare r— ' *^» J * . % » r outline ^^ X- * . VA J . JLAV of X ^* - the UAAV

    plot , and by so doing turns his work into ridicule . in Action conj s un which ction are with probabl the e surrounding enough when 'sand taken the

    motives and irrational tha . b are when adduced related , seem shortly utterly like , this absurd . Or

    ba it ble may , but be that are the relieved actions from are a condemnation little bit impro , by

    other other merits merits in in the the work work , all all of of which whioh are are lost lost . sig confessed confess ht of in we we such think thinlc a review the thfi . , novelist novelist Well , here labours la . hrm , it must nnrlpr unde be r

    some slight , hardship . But on the , part of the mediocre reviewer it novels may be th sai at d th are at it treated is usually ^ fter only this the

    in fashion the . reviewing Everyone of who iiction has will had any know experience that the most difficult novels to criticise are those which

    are purely colourless , neither very good nor very bad natel , "but the absolutel majority y of indiifferent novels come . As u , nder unfortu this

    y , heading 4 ^ V ft , the . ^ B weary reviewer a is A often ^^ put to his _ _ driven wit's end to to the know expedient what to of allowing say , and he the is book usually to

    speak , for itself . That it sometimes loses by this method of treatment we candidly admit s but still more frequently ¦ Tw » I I ¦» - it meets with all Ilkdfe the # brfb \ f credit it

    — - •» - * * r w-m <*^ - . ™ , -. * - ^ M-J - *» . -. « ^" J ^ ^ " " " ** ^* ^* »* ' >* » » ^ *» ^^ ^ rt » . , «< -- ^^ ^ k , ^^ Aa ^ A ^ " >¦ ** deserves . ^ Mr , Howells seems to Ibe in considerable doubt a ' ¦ " ¦ ' " ' ¦ - ' ¦ - ^

    whether reviewers are of any use in the world . Probabl J . . L V ft ^ L-V ft * r * L y T to L' ^^ alread tVXJ . Vt ^ ViJ y established VkJVU / IV / AAMUVUL . authors I ^ UVJ ^ Vi . ^ their VUV 1 A t as * rt ^ - ah * h W » h ai M avsivsta « B 1 A « 1 *«¦ *« A j « b

    sistance is of the . sli _ ghtest . People will read their ^ works with w ¦« ¦« -b the bb whether unknown aatj ¦ they ¦ aja writer be criticised the matter -- or is not different ¦ ¦ ¦ . , But hjar aajaat .

    . ^ p ^ - ^» ^ ar ^ - ^^ a > ^^^ a- ^ . ^^^ - «» aa >* a » ^ aa' * a * w ^ a » *¦* ^^ ^ a ^ « ^» a ^^^ ^ ^^^^ ^ ^^ - ^ ^ ^ " " ^ a ^ wm ^ *«/ ^ He is in need of every assistance in the way of publicity he can get . The reviewer helps to ^ f ^ amiliarise - ^^ - ^ ^^*^^~^^ ^^ ^^ - - ^^ ^ fc ^ - ^ ^^ ^^ i h ^^^ his ^^ v ^ iv > ^^^ w name ^^^ r ^^ a >^^ r ^^ v ^^ vrtB ^ ^ a ^^ with » ^ a » ^^» ^ ap the ^^^ ^»^™ " ^ aF public X M ^^ ^^ — ^^^ ^ a ^ . a' Every ^^^^ a »/ w ^ a > r aHh «/

    notice he obtains is in fact an advertisement , and the m 6 re forcibly the notice be written the more likely he is to derive benefit from its publication .

    In this way a vigorous condemnatory review is often of far more assistance to the author than a faint ^^ m ¦ ¦ ^™^ aw ^ — h characterless ^ aF- bb v ai ^^ wv ^ BT ^^ aj ^* . aa » ¦¦ ^^ r ¦ ^*^ a notice ^>*^ ^ a ^ ' ^^ w ^ ^ a- ^ r . ar ^ But ^^^ i" »¦ ^^ in aw —a . one ^^ - ^¦« ' ^ > sense v ^ iar ^ - *™ a > afcja- - ™ a- Mr a ^ tvb ^ . , ^ ^

    Ho wells is undoubtedly right . Reviews , nov-a-~ are days ^^~ v —~ ~^ ar , of ^^ as ^ w little a w ^^^ ^^ means - ^ b ^^^ ^ a 1 service nar " ^ iaF ^ of ^* ~ v influencing ^« a ^ v . ^ As pv ^ h ^^^^ a ^^^ r ^ rule the ^ - ^ v ^^^— ¦ sale v . ^ ^ a ^ ~ of ^ v V le a work read a . j ja > va ^ vja , ^^ ^^^* , peop ^ " ^^^ ^^ **^*

    reviews nowiwith the object of being amused , and not for the purpose of information . But there is always this to be said , that each notice

    constitutes a very effective advertisement . On the whole , then , we are inclined to think that authors - ~ r ¦ the ¦ are ¦ charges aF groundles BBjBfe 9 mm levelled s and ia ^»» unfounded vwab against -laf «« bp - fca review r . We ers have tfBtf by

    " ^ ' — ' - ^— ^ P .. ^— ^^ ^ " ^ w ^ nw ^ av ^^^^ a » ^ ar ^^ a * . " ¦ ^»«^ ^ v ^ av ^^ ^ a ^ a » p ^^^^ a »»» w ^ % a . ^^^ r ^ aVB ^ Y V V ^ tfT littlB aK A B a an - doubt . 4 WA 4 ^ .. that . *& ^ some critics x . ^ ^ . may ' . ¦ be ^ influenced _»_ . by jealousy and spite , for , so long as human nature remains what it is , there are sure to be men who

    will will indulge indule-e their their small small--minded minded enmities enmities to to the thp . discredit of justice . The cry of the vindictive book reviewer ¦ w-v- ail ¦ I w ' ajaj is , ' not « am Oh , entirel that h lay mine without f enemy point had . writt But en the a

    great ^ w majority '^ ' - ^ mm * - ** . ^ of ka * ^>^ B > reviewers mm a ^ «^ 4 y r V v ^ . V ^ Jb we ^^ *^ " » VaT feel B ^ ^ h ^ ¦* d ^^ b assured a ^ a ^ mtm ^^ ^ % - VhT - per wA « V » - form their often tedious and temper-trying task with " * ^ " * ^^ ^~^*^ conscientious ^^^ ^ ap aa »^» ¦ ** ^¦ tf' * bb « v ^ ak ««» ^ p as ^ auaja ^ ' fairness aB ^ wv •¦* *^ *^^ a > ^ pr aj ^^ r r 1 " and V ^* V O . a ^ ^^ T * discrimination ^^/^ ^ b r ^ f ^^ aV ^ k ^ J ^*^ J ^ J- » ^^ ftf a ^ j ^ a ^ . ^ 1 ^ JQ . 0 . a ^ k a . to mt A ^ fe - H s ^ a

    Jfc-Probably if we were asked to point . out the mosi ; impartial form of critic , we should say it is the man and — ^ — — to who — ¦¦ " »« act -w - ¦* consents ¦ V as -w-w w ~* r W a ¦ medium — » - ^ ap vwa to vai a efface . aj — between rw ^_^ «^ V » his ¦ " # ¦» ^^ Jfc ^ own the VA « ^ a * " personalit author * k >* W * J »« ¦»* a ^ a & V- " ab K and MA Vr y

    temperatel the world , simp y correcting ly telling such what mistakes is in the as book he , may and shown detect . the But general to this public form object of criticism since , as it we is w have

    anting in , amusement and piquancy , . The iadignant author author should should pour Dour out out the the vials vials of of his his wrath wrath

    the over ^^ ^— ^^~ ^ head — ' the ~ v w-v w reading of ^ r ¦¦ the <^ " * a . »^ world unfortunate fti I I « b »* b « iat ^^ v «¦» «« general r ^^^ tfiilhVaiv V ^^^ n and l y ^ KbJBi , tfaB rather ^ much 0 * * rl * k 4 than abused xf ^ f p ^^ v \^ ty on , J "B . *^^*^ ^^^ ^ ^_^

    reviewer the great . The and latter inexorable after law all is of only supp obey ly and ingdemand .

    ¦ ¦! *¦*

    1094 The Publishers' Circular Oct. I, 18...

    1094 The Publishers' Circular Oct . i , 1887

    M-M^-W — Magazines For The Month.

    m-m ^ -W — MAGAZINES FOR THE MONTH .

    Murray ' s Magazine ( John Murray ) opens with * ¦ " ^^ ^* ¦ " ^^ an ¦*¦ v r ^* m v articl ^^ v **¦ -w a ^ « tf ^^ e ^^ - on ^^ r a ^ laaa a ~ B iir subject as »^ ^^ aa r *^ ¦ ^^ r ^ w' ^* ¦ jus ¦ » i a > , ^ fc Vd ^ now aaL Jh *| , ¦ ; ¦/ of ^ H' aW ^ a peculiar W * . ^* ^ i _ r *^^* ^_ ^ ^ W ^ i ^_ rlfa ^

    W manager interest . M . , Ackworth ' of Scailet the Metropolitan , Fever who , in fro the m Asylums his Metropolis position Board , ' by as , ¦ brings w to bear upon M rf hK his « a » aj work mt a considerable !

    ~^ " —* mmm ' / " ^ r ~^ ^ " *^ v ^^ ^^ ** ^ - ^ a n ^«~* —* ^^ p » ^^ «^ ^^ . «^ V ^ T * ' ^^ »« P *^ j ^ ^—/ W * X » T *^ W »> V " ^^ alb ^^ amount Ancient Game of special ' is the knowled title of ge an . interesting ' A Royal , and and , . in n a— * some w -v m ^^ - — - ^ r respects «« , vr ^ m ^ r - > j _ v - *^¦ r ww , humorous aMav , % y-, ^ a , > . ^_^ m . ^^ v «»« r articl " . ^ n . *• • AVA e ^ - * on ^— ' * * the VA 4 ^» pastime k ^ LW ^ |^ . « . fi ¦ , " i V /

    of golf , by Horace G . Hutchinson . Fiction is afforded entitled A * My in aj * m a Advertisement clever story , , ' with by h Paul the continua Gushing - , ¦ _ AH ah h ^ ^^^^^_ ^^ A ^ 1

    tion of ^^ < Major Lawrence . , F . L . S ., ' by the Hon ! Emily Lawless . Anaong the remaining contents , ' Jph XJhe f n Story ¦<•> Halifax ja ~ of an Gentleman Old fc-a Frien / ^ and »| HT , ' by the Sermons author / by of

    ' A . -- C 4 ~~< « . — t . . --. — . Benson 'f ' k ^»»»» -- » . < - , ^« maj - > , -g •**** ^ especiall " ^ « . . a * ^^ * J . W «> m' . |>* " y be ¦> mentioned X ^« B *>_ . * T "f " l V / * ¦ »^ , * Pi- ' The 0 ^ r * t mf number List / short concludes notices , as of usual the most , with notable ' Our Library books

    recently contents * * VJ published are aj iai not a ah exceeding w ; and no ly one varied can and say interest that ^^ ' its _ . - ing

    - ¦;¦ ¦ " - - : - ¦ - ¦ ¦ ^

• Citation
  • Publishers’ Circular (1880-1890), Oct. 1, 1887, page 1094, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/pc/issues/tec_01101887/page/48/