Historical Romances
A story of pure love and stirring action. It purports to be told by an inseparable attendant of Henry of Navarre, and that hero of a hundred lights and as many gallant adventures is made to live again for us.
We close the book reluctantly. The hours spent in reading “The King’s Henchman” were richly rewarded.
—Atlanta Constitution.
What is more noticeable than the interest of the story itself is Mr. Johnson’s intuitive insight and thorough understanding at the period. While the book is Weyman in vigorous activity, it is Dumas in its brilliant touches of romanticism.
—Boston Herald.
Mr. Johnson has caught the spirit of the period, and has painted in Henry of Navarre a truthful and memorable historical portrait.—The Mail and Express, New York.
The story of “The Count’s Snuff-Box” is founded on an incident of the War of 1812. In January of that year an adventurer, calling himself Count de Crillon, appeared in Washington, and for some weeks was the central social attraction of the capital. He bore letters from prominent members of Napoleon’s government to M. Serurier, then Minister from France. His motive was ostensibly to help France, and injure Great Britain and the Federalists, but his real object was to secure money for John Henry’s letters. In this he finally succeeded, the United States government purchasing them for fifty thousand dollars.
The author of this powerful romance lived in Palestine for over five years, and during his residence there had unusual and peculiar advantages for seeing and knowing the people and the country. He has selected the present time for the story, but has drawn freely from all the rich treasures of the past for ornament. The portions connected with the “Thar,” or blood-feud between the Syrian villages, and the insurrection in Crete are not only of uncommon interest and power, but are also intensely dramatic.
A biblical, patriarchal, pastoral spirit pervades it. Indeed, the whole book is saturated with the author’s reverence for the Holy Land, its legends, traditions, glory, misery,—its romance, in a word, and its one supreme glory, the impress of the Chosen of God and of the Master who walked among them.
—The Independent.
Mr. Gillman has certainly opened up a new field of fiction. The book is a marvel of power, acute insight, and clever manipulation of thoroughly grounded truths. The story is as much of a giant in fiction as its hero is among men.
—Boston Herald.
The book is one that seems destined to take hold of the popular heart as strongly as did “Ben Hur” or “Quo Vadis,” nor is it less worthy of such popularity than either of those named.
—Art Interchange.
It is romance of the strongest type. Many pages fairly glow with color, as the author in his enthusiasm portrays the natural beauties of the Holy Land.
—Public Opinion.
The hero of “Hassan, a Fellah.” will be a revelation even to those who carry their ethnological studies beyond the realm of fiction.
—N. Y. Times.
Of intense interest to the whole Christian civilization.—Chicago Tribune.
With him we view, appalled, Rome, grand and awful, in her last throes. The picture of the giant Ursus struggling with the wild animal is one that will always hold place with such literary triumphs as that of the chariot race in “Ben Hur.”
—Boston Courier.
Mr. Curtin’s English is so limpid and fluent that one finds it difficult to realize that he is reading a translation.
—Philadelphia Church Standard.
Half crushed Levant morocco, extra, gilt top, $12.00.
The only modern romance with which it can be compared for fire, sprightliness, rapidity of action, swift changes, and absorbing interest is “The Three Musketeers” of Dumas.—New York Tribune.
“With Fire and Sword” is the first of a trilogy of historical romances of Poland, Russia, and Sweden. Their publication has been received throughout the United States by readers and critics as an event in literature. Action in the field has never before been described in any language so briefly, so vividly, and with such a marvellous expression of energy. The famous character of Zagloba has been described as “a curious and fascinating combination of Falstaff and Ulysses.” Charles Dudley Warner, in “Harper’s Magazine,” affirms that the Polish author has in Zagloba given a new creation to literature.
It even surpasses in interest and power the same author’s romance, “With Fire and Sword.” … The whole story swarms with brilliant pictures of war, and with personal episodes of battle and adventure.—New York Tribune.
Marvellous in its grand descriptions.—Chicago Inter-Ocean.
One of the direct anointed line of the kings of story-telling.
—Literary World.
A really great novelist … To match this story one must turn to the masterpieces of Scott and Dumas.
—Philadelphia Press.
This work completes the great Polish trilogy. The period of the story is 1668-1674, and the principal historical event is the Turkish invasion of 1672. Pan Michael, a favorite character in the preceding stories, and the incomparable Zagloba figure throughout the novel. The most important historical character introduced is Sobieski, who was elected king in 1674.
No word less than “Excelsior” will justly describe the achievement of the trilogy of novels of which “Pan Michael” is the last.—Baltimore American.
There is no falling off in interest in this third and last book of the series; again Sienkiewicz looms as one of the great novel writers of the world.
—The Nation.
From the artistic standpoint, to have created the character of Zagloba was a feat comparable with Shakespeare’s creation of Falstaff and Goethe’s creation of Mephistopheles.
—The Dial.
Modern Greece may be proud of having given the world an historical romance like this. Viewed merely as a story, it is a work of absorbing interest in its plot and execution. At the same time, no other book, whether description, travels, or pure romance, offers so faithful and complete a picture of Greek life to-day. The reader follows the vicissitudes of hero and heroine with rapt attention, and all the time seems breathing Greek air under a Greek sky and living among the Greeks.
A book well worth reading, because it is a story of thrilling interest and it presents the best description of a memorable conflict for national liberty.
—Detroit Tribune.
A book which is drama and action from one end to the other. Altogether a most fascinating work.
—New York Home Journal.
This is a romantic story of the days of Saladin and Richard Cœur de Leon. Its author has wrought into it much of the color of the home-life of the period and many of the quaint superstitions and folk-lore. The scene of the story is in part laid in England and in part in the Holy Land.
It is as sweet and pure a piece of fiction as we have read for many a day, breathing, as it does, the same noble air, the lofty tone, and the wholesome sentiment of “Lorna Doone.”
—The Bookman.
A beautiful little story, sweet and inspiring, not less clever than true.
—New York Times.
A charming story… Its fidelity to the conditions prevailing in the Virginia colony at the time is carefully sustained.
—The Review of Reviews.
It is one of the masterpieces of French romantic fiction, … and a book to be always read and remembered.
—New York Mail and Express.
THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES. An Historical Romance of the Court of Henry II. By Madame de la Fayette. With preface by Anatole France. Translated by Thomas Sergeant Perry. Most exquisitely illustrated with four full page etchings and eight etched vignettes by Jules Garnier, also a portrait of the author engraved by Lamotte. The letterpress choicely printed on handmade paper at the University Press, Cambridge. 2 vols. 16mo. Cloth, extra, gilt top, $3.75.
Madame de la Fayette was the first to introduce naturalness into fiction,—the first to draw human beings and real feelings; and thereby she earned a place among the true classics.
—Preface by Anatole France.
A story of Venice in the time of Titian and Tintoretto, who figure prominently in the work. The mosaic work executed in the restoration of the basilica of St. Mark is fully described, and George Sand has followed very closely the facts as given by Vasari regarding the brothers Zuccati and Bartolomeo Bozza. The story is one of exquisite beauty and great power.
“The Master Mosaic Workers” is one of the most delightful of historical novels, and gives a vivid picture of the life in Venice at the time when Titian, Tintoretto, and Giorgione were in their zenith, and when the famous mosaics which still adorn St. Mark’s were being made.
—Literary World.
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID; or, Three Years in the Holy City. Being a Series of Letters of Adina, a Jewess of Alexandria, supposed to be sojourning in Jerusalem in the days of Herod, addressed to her father, a wealthy Jew in Egypt, and relating, as if by an eye-witness, all the scenes and wonderful incidents in the life of Jesus of Nazareth, from his Baptism in Jordan to his Crucifixion on Calvary. By Rev. J. H. Ingraham. 12mo. Cloth, $1.00.
These editions contain the author’s latest revisions, he having availed himself of hints and suggestions contained in numerous private letters from eminent and learned men of various denominations, who have pointed out errors and suggested alterations and improvements.
THE THRONE OF DAVID, from the Consecration of the Shepherd of Bethlehem to the Rebellion of Prince Absalom. Being an Illustration of the Splendor, Power, and Dominion of the Reign of the Shepherd, Poet, Warrior, King, and Prophet, Ancestor and Type of Jesus; in a Series of Letters addressed by an Assyrian Ambassador to his Lord and King on the Throne of Nineveh. By Rev. J. H. Ingraham. 12mo. Cloth, $1.00.
BULWER’S HISTORICAL ROMANCES.
Comprising:—
Devereux. 2 vols.
The Last Days of Pompeii. 1 vol.
Rienzi, the Last of the Roman Tribunes. 2 vols.
The Last of the Barons. 2 vols.
Leila and Calderon, Pausanias the Spartan. 1 vol.
Harold, the Last of the Saxon Kings. 2 vols.
Any story can be supplied separately.
The new library edition of Bulwer’s works is one of exceeding beauty, the size, type, paper, and binding of the volumes making them “a delight to the eye and to the touch.”
—The Watchman.