Songs of Seven
By . Illustrated. Boston : Roberts Brothers
THE sweet female singer who has been so warmly welcomed of late in England and America deserves to be “illustrated.” “ Songs of Seven ” is one of her best pieces, but not her best. The “ High Tide on the Coast of Lincolnshire ” is certainly worthy of the special honor here accorded to the “ Songs of Seven ” ; and we are somewhat surprised at the selection, by her American publishers, of these particular verses for illustration.
The wood-cuts in “ Songs of Seven ” vary materially, and are not in harmony throughout. Some are of the first order of excellence, while some are weak and inadequate. Nearly all the square blocks show artistic thought and skill, and really illustrate the poem. Those by another hand (the artists’ names are not given) betray paucity of mind, as well as uncertain fingers.
The most attractive merit of this volume is the printer’s part of it. The red borders are as beautiful in their way as any ornamental inclosures can be ; and we have only to compare them with some others in books published this year in America to note how superior they are in every respect. The University Press, to which belongs the credit of this work, has justly won to itself the first praise where printing is appreciated as a fine art. We have recently seen an edition of the King’s-Chapel Liturgy, with rubrics, from this press, which must rank among the best-printed books of our time.