THE REVIEW. We belong to the unpopular family of Tell-truths, and would not flatter Apollo for his Lyre."-ROB ROY. Julia Sévéra; ou, L'An Quatre Cent Quatre-vingt-douze. Par J. C. L. SIMONDE DE SISMONDI, Auteur de l'Histoire des Français, de l'Histoire des Républiques Italiennes du Moyen Age, de la Littérature du Midi de l'Europe, &c. &c. Paris, Treuttel et Würtz. 1822. 3 vols. THIS is a very curious and interesting book. The fact of its being the production of M. Sismondi, would of itself attract attention. When an author of high fame publishes a work in an entirely new line of writing, it becomes most interesting, were it on that account alone. The pen of an erudite and lofty-minded historian producing a novel, affords a contrast of composition especially striking; and M. Sismondi, descending from his works of labour and dignity to a composition of this nature, presents to us an unusual example of versatility as well as brilliancy of talent. Julia Sévéra is composed from the overflowings of the information which it was necessary to acquire for his French history. The immense labour of the study requisite for the production of that work may be, in some measure, conceived from the statement in M. Sismondi's preface, that he grew pale (pali) over all the chronicles, all the codes of laws, and all the lives of the saints of that period! Merely to read them over, a task sufficiently arduous, did not suffice; he was obliged to study them, in a manner which rendered him conversant with the most minute detail, and must have impressed each character individually on his mind. He informs VOL, I. PART II. 2 B us, for example, that he read Gregory of Tours through three different times! Possessing this extraordinary degree of information concerning an age so generally unknown, M. Sismondi wished to give a more full and exact account of the state of Gaul during the last years of the Roman Empire, than the nature of historical composition would allow. He has, therefore, chosen "le cadre d'un roman,' to represent the manners and modes of life of the various classes that inhabited Gaul at that period;-and the sole merit which he claims, is that of having done this with the truth of an historian, and the accuracy of an antiquary. He modestly confesses, that he does not expect to throw the life and interest into his story, which so eminently belong to those admirable Scotch novels, which give the manners of the country at the period of which they treat, with all the freshness and fidelity of authentic memoir. This is praise which their author may indeed look on as adding a branch of laurel to the crown which the hands of all classes of readers have been eager to place upon his head. M. Sismondi, a man of high fame and striking genius, takes him for à model, and expresses his ambition to catch some portion of the spirit which flows with such animating interest throughout all his works. But Julia Sévéra possesses, in our opinion, far greater merit than that of accurate description. Were it from the pen of an unknown writer, we should at once characterize it as the production of a man of high talent. If the conduct of the story be deficient, or the interest occasionally flag, we are more than repaid by the vivid representation of scenery and personal appearance-the dramatic situations, and the rapid dialogue and admirable sketching of character, with which it abounds. We have long wished in vain for books of the nature |