VATHEK--An Oriental Tale, by Mr. Beckford, author of Italy, &c.
Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Blanchard. 1834.
The publishers of this _fashionable_ romance, by way of smoothing its
path to general reception and favor, have attached to the title page
various opinions expressed by English journalists,--to wit: The
_Quarterly Review_ says, "a very remarkable performance. It continues
in possession of all the celebrity it once commanded." The "_Printing
Machine_" (a paper we presume of that name) says, "As an Eastern story,
we know nothing produced by an European imagination that can stand a
comparison with this work." The _Morning Post_ exclaims, "The finest
Oriental tale extant!" and the "_Gentleman's Magazine_," pronounces it
"a creation of genius that would immortalize its author at any time,
and under any taste." These are very imposing authorities, and
superadded to them all, it is said that Mr. Beckford is now living, is
one of the richest men in England, and occupies so high a rank in
social life, that royalty itself has been known to court his society.
Nor is this all. Lord Byron pronounced "Vathek" to be a most surpassing
production--far superior as an Eastern tale, to the "Rassalais" of
Johnson,--and whatever has been said by Lord Byron, especially in
matters of taste, will pass with some persons as incontrovertible
orthodoxy. We have not examined particularly to ascertain what our own
critics have said on the subject; but we believe that some of them at
least, have echoed the plaudits of the British periodicals. Be this as
it may, we happen to have an honest opinion of our own, and we must
say, in our poor judgment, that a more impure, disgusting, and
execrable production, than this same "Vathek," never issued from the
English or American press. That the author was a youth of extraordinary
genius, is acknowledged; (he wrote before twenty years of age)--but it
was genius totally perverted and poisoned at its source. The work could
have been written by no one whose heart was not polluted at its very
core. Obscene and blasphemous in the highest degree, its shocking
pictures are in no wise redeemed by the beauty and simplicity of
Oriental fiction. We should pronounce it, without knowing any thing of
Mr. Beckford's character, to be the production of a sensualist and an
infidel--one who could riot in the most abhorred and depraved
conceptions--and whose prolific fancy preferred as its repast all that
was diabolical and monstrous, rather than what was beautiful and good.
We shall not even attempt a detailed account of this volume--but when
such works are recommended to public favor, we think it is time that
criticism should brandish its rod, and that the genius of morality--if
there be such a spirit in our land--should frown down the effort.
LEISURE HOURS, or the American Popular Library; conducted by an
Association of Gentlemen. Boston: _John Allen & Co._ 1835.
Here is another contribution to the constantly increasing store of
popular literature. If the present generation does not surpass all its
predecessors in the acquisition of knowledge in its various forms, it
will not be from any deficiency of intellectual food. In England, the
Family Library, the Libraries of Useful and Entertaining Knowledge, the
Penny Magazine, and innumerable other productions of the same class,
are employed to diffuse through every portion of society, sound and
valuable instruction; and many of these excellent publications are not
only reprinted in the United States, but the time is not distant when
we may justly boast of others of entirely domestic origin. The work
before us seems to have been commenced under favorable auspices, and
with laudable objects. The editors in their advertisement, which we
quote at length for the benefit of our readers, "propose to publish, at
convenient intervals, a series of volumes of standard merit, calculated
to interest and instruct every class of the community. Although they
have chosen for the title of the series, the name of the American
Popular Library, it is not to be understood that it is to consist
wholly, or even principally, of American works. Nor, on the other hand,
will any work, however popular, be introduced into the series, unless,
in the opinion of the editors, it shall possess such a character as
will secure to it a continued reputation, after it shall have ceased to
interest by its novelty. In their selections they do not propose to be
limited to any one class of works, but to include such books in each
department, as shall appear to them to be most deserving of a place in
the library of an enlightened christian family.
"It seems to them important, that the attention of our reading
community should be turned to works of more _permanent_ value, than
belongs to most of the periodical literature of the day, or at least
that it should not be confined exclusively to works of only a temporary
interest. The spirit of the times appears also to demand, that the
separation, which has too often been made between elegant literature
and pure christianity, should cease to exist, and that a christian
literature should take the place of that, which has, in many cases,
begun and ended in infidelity. It is the design of the editors of this
publication to promote, so far as shall be in their power, the union of
polite literature, sound learning and christian morals. Beyond this
they do not suppose it necessary that they should pledge themselves to
the public. A sufficient security for their patrons seems to be
provided, in leaving it optional with the purchaser to take only such
part of the series as he may choose.
"It is intended that a volume of nearly uniform size shall be issued
every two or three months, or in such a manner that four or five
volumes shall appear annually."