[2355] Messrs. Robert Brothers' Publications.
Lives of Exemplary women.
Messrs. Roberts' Bros. are publishing a series of Lives of Exemplary Women, uniform in size and price. The first volume is Memoirs and correspondence of Madame Recamier. Translated from the French and edited by Miss Luyster. With a fine portrait of Madame Recamier. Seventh edition. One handsome 12mo volume. Price $1. 50. ‘Her own contributions to it are exceedingly brief, but her individuality permeate the whole work and gives it unity. She was undoubtedly a woman of genius; but it was in her life alone, in her noble friendships, in her unselfish devotion to all bound to her by any ties, that gave her genius expression, and it is only fair, therefore, that she should attain immortality not through the labor of her own spirit, but rather through the praise of those by whom she was so well beloved.’—Virginia Vaughan in ‘The Leader.’ The second volume is life and letters of Madame Swetchine. By Count De Falloux. Translated by Miss Preston. Seventh edition In one volume. 12mo. Price $1. 50.The third volume is the friendships of women. By Rev. W. R. Alger. Seventh edition. One volume, 12mo. Price $1. 50.The Life and Letters of Madame Swetchine, is a companion volume to Mme. Recamier, and both works give us two phases of contemporary Paris life, and two characters that with some accidental resemblances, present strong points of contrast.
The social influence both women exercised was good, but when we compare the two, Madame Recamier's sinks to a much lower level. She (Madame It. ) was gentle and kind. ready to sacrifice herself to any extent to advance the material influence of her friends, but she was essentially a worldly woman; whereas Madame Swetchine was ‘in the world but not of it. ’ She exerted an immense spiritual as well as intellectual influence on all who approached her, and raised her friends to her own level. Madame Recamier made her associates pleased with themselves, whilst Madame Swetchine taught hers to forget themselves. As a biography, the life of Madame Swetchine is more satisfactory and much better written; that of Madame Recamier is fuller of personal anecdote respecting distinguished person, and as a book of reference is more valuable. We frequently meet the same people in each and in this respect they serve to illustrate and explain each other.
The fourth volume is saint Beuve's portraits of celebrated women. Madame De Sevinge Madame De La Fayette. Madame De Souza. Madame Roland. Madame Dr Stael. Madame De Duras. Madame De Remusat. Madame De Krudener. Madame Guizot. To match ‘Madame Recamier,’ ‘Madame Swetchine,’ and ‘The Friendships of Women.’ In one volume, 12mo. Price 8 1. 50. Mailed. postpaid, to at address, on receipt of the price by the PublishersMr. Alger is among our most diligent students and earnest thinkers; and this volume will add to the reputation he has fairly earned as the occupant of quite a prominent place in American literature. He deserves all the popularity he has won; for, always thoughtful sincere, and excellent of purpose with his pen, he allows no success to seduce him into any content with what he has already accomplished. His ‘ Friendships of Women,’ for many reasons, will have a wide circle of readers, and cannot fail to increase our sense of the worth of human nature, as it enthusiastically delineates some of its most elevated manfestations. By telling what woman has been, he tells what woman may be; intellectually as well as morally, in the beauty of her mind as well as in the affections of her heart, and the loveliness of her person.
Salem Gazette.
