Professor Wendell's "Shakspere."

The following is extracted from the criticism of Professor Wendell's book, "William Shakspere," which appears in the present number of the Nation:

"To students of Shakspere there is much, even in the aesthetic criticism, that is now quite familiar; and yet the justification of the book appears not only in fresh and vivid restatements of well-known views, but in occasional entirely original discussions, with much fruitful suggestiveness concerning not only Shakspere, but literature, art, and life. Even when one violently disagrees with the author, one is almost sure to learn something; which is perhaps the highest tribute that can be paid to the professional teacher * * * *

"The book suffers a little from a trait noticeable in some other writings of this author an irrepressible fondness for paradox. Perhaps it is necessary nowadays to talk about Shakspere paradoxically, if one expects to receive any attention; but paradox too often passes for originality. * * * *

"Interesting as the book is even to special students, its chief value, we think, will appear if it is used as an introduction to the study of Shakspere. We are pleased to find in it none of the absurdities of the "inductive" school of criticism, which makes what should be a literary work seem like a text-book on graphic algebra or spherical geometry. The method here is absolutely sane and sound, the style is lucidity itself, fact is everywhere kept clear from inference, and there is no gush. There is not a silly sentence in the book. What reader of Dowden or Fleay can say that?"