Book Notices
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BOOK NOTICES.
MARRIED OR SINGLE, by the Author of Hope Leslie, Redwood, &c. In two vols. New York, Harper & Brothers.
We gather from the preface to these volumes that some years have elapsed since their author last appeared before the world, and she has consequently to encounter an entirely new set of readers from those whose approval greeted her former works. We are of opinion that the reception accorded to this work will be quite as flattering as her modesty leads her to expect. It is not of the class which we ourselves most delight in perusing—the incidents are too tame, and the characters not strongly marked enough, to excite a thrilling interest in the bosom of the veteran novel reader. But the pictures of American domestic life, which are drawn with a discriminating and appreciative hand, will commend “Married or Single” to the favorable attention of the reading community. There are many pages—we allude especially to the epistolary parts of the volume—which might have been pruned without detracting from the merit of the work; but on the whole the volumes are very readable, and have not only an excellent social purpose to subserve, but are permeated by a strong religious feeling, and inculcate incidentally lessons of the purest morality. The volumes are handsome and portable, and would form an appropriate and ornamental addition to the library.
THE ATHELINGS; Or, THE THREE GIFTS, by Margaret Oliphant. New York, Harper and Bros.
A considerable portion of the public are already more or less familiar with “The Athelings,” from its publication in serial form; and now that the Messrs. Harper have placed it within the reach of all, by incorporating it into their library of standard novels, we anticipate quite an extensive demand for it. “The Athelings” is in our judgment one of the best, if not the very best, of the works of its class with which the press is teeming; and the critical acumen which guides the selection of works for Harpers’ standard library was never better displayed than by promptly incorporating “The Athelings” into the list. No collection of works of fiction can hereafter be considered complete unless “The Athelings” forms a part of it.